NEW YORK, N.Y. – The Fairfield University men’s basketball team received a vote of confidence from the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) head coaches this afternoon, as the group placed the Stags in the upper division of its pre-season poll. Fairfield was selected fourth in the 2009 MAAC Pre-Season rankings, the second straight season that the program was voted into the top four.

Head Coach Ed Cooley’s squad collected 67 points in the pre-season poll, 12 points ahead of Loyola University and Saint Peter’s College and 15 points behind Rider University. Siena College was tabbed the pre-season favorite for the 2009-10 campaign, as the Saints are looking for their third straight MAAC championship. Niagara University, last year’s runner-up, garnered the number two selection with 87 points. Rider University wound up third in the poll with one first-place vote, joining Siena as the only teams with a number-one vote.

After Loyola and Saint Peter’s fifth-place tie, Canisius College filled the number seven slot with 43 votes while Manhattan held the eighth position with 40 points. Iona (30 points) and Marist (20 points) rounded out the poll in ninth and tenth place respectively.

The conference also announced the 2009-10 pre-season All-MAAC teams this afternoon, highlighted by Rider guard Ryan Thompson’s selection as the pre-season player of the year. Fairfield received one spot among the 15 student-athletes selected to the three teams. Senior Greg Nero earned a spot on the All-MAAC second team after his All-MAAC third-team selection after the 2008-09 campaign.

The men’s basketball team, under third-year head coach Ed Cooley, sported a 17-15 overall record last season. The Stags open their 2009-10 regular-season as part of the inaugural Connecticut 6 Classic on November 13 at the Arena at Harbor Yard. Fairfield will play the second game of the tripleheader and will take on Central Connecticut State University.

For ticket information for all Fairfield basketball games, please contact the Fairfield University ticket office at (203) 254-4103 or visit the Arena at Harbor Yard box office. Tickets are also available online at www.ticketmaster.com.