CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. -One thing for sure...Fairfield is road tough.

The Stags are 3-4 so far this season and have yet to play a home game.  They are Austin Peay's first December opponent when the two meet, 7:30 p.m., Saturday, in Dave Aaron Arena.

Fairfield enters the game playing their final away game before finally playing at Webster Bank Arena next Friday.  They are coming off an 85-78 loss at DePaul, Wednesday night. The same Blue Demons overwhelmed, Dec. 16, in a 98-67 decision.

In other words, Fairfield is no Berea. In fact, Fairfield has been a consistent powerhouse in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. Two years ago the Governors traveled to Bridgeport, Conn., as part of the BracketBuster series and Fairfield defeated the Govs, 76-69.

The Stags' best player that day was sophomore guard Derek Needham.  He is now a senior and has earned all-league honors the last two seasons.  As good as he has been, Needham may have put together two of his career's best two performances in his last two outings.  The 5-11 guard tallied 18 points against Providence game and followed up with 29 points DePaul for a two-game total of 47 points.

Freshman forward Amadou Sidibe came off the bench to register his first career double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds against DePaul. The rookie became the second Stag to record a double-double this year, joining Keith Matthews who accomplished the task against with 17 points and 10 rebounds.

 The Stags incorporate a tough physical east coast-style of basketball along with Princeton-style offense. Second-year coach Sydney Johnson is not only an alum of Princeton but coached the Tigers four seasons before coming to Fairfield.

The Governors, meanwhile, are coming off a 108-53 victory against NAIA foe Berea College. Anthony Campbell, who scored 20 points in the game, broke the 1,000-point barrier. Meanwhile, freshman Croey Arentsen hit six straight three pointers in the second half to finish also with 20 points as five Govs broke into double figures.

Fastbreak

• This is Dave Loos' 23rd season as Austin Peay head coach and he is 366-313 at Austin Peay-the winningest basketball coach in Ohio Valley Conference history-while 448-366 all-time in his 27th season as a college head coach.
• Austin Peay was picked to finish third behind Murray State and Southeast Missouri in the newly formed OVC West Division in the preseason poll.
• After playing four straight games away from Dave Aaron Arena, this is Game 2 of the Govs' three-game homestand.
• This is Austin Peay's second meeting with Fairfield, having played the Stags in Feb. 2011 as part of the BracketBuster series..
• Fairfield was picked fourth in the Metro Atlantic preseason poll behind Loyola (Md.), Manhattan and Iona.
• Senior guard Derek Needham is coming off a 29-point outing at DePaul. He is averaging 15 ppg. Two seasons ago, Needham had 19 points and five assists against the Govs in the Stags victory.
• Needham is the only Stag averaging in double figures. Forward Keith Matthews, who had 10 points in the 2011 game, is second on the team in scoring (9.3 ppg).
• The two teams have one common opponent. The Govs lost at DePaul, 98-67, Nov. 17, while the Stags lost only a 85-78 margin earlier this week.
• The Stags are coached by Sydney Johnson, who is in second season. He came to Fairfield after a successful four-year run at his alma mater, Princeton.
• Fairfield was the eventual destination of former Govs star guard Danny Odums, who left APSU after the 1973-74 season over an entrance requirement interpretation at the conference office.