BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (Interstat) — A critical late-season Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference men’s basketball clash is set for Friday when the Fairfield Stags host the Siena Saints at Webster Bank Arena. Both teams enter with nearly identical records and plenty at stake for conference tournament seeding. Siena (19-10, 12-6 MAAC) sits just ahead of Fairfield (18-11, 11-7 MAAC) in the league standings. The Saints won the first meeting this season, 85-77, at home on Jan. 19. Siena is led by standout guard Gavin Doty, who enters on a hot streak. He is averaging 19.9 points over his last eight games, including a 21-point, 7-rebound performance in a 72-63 win over Saint Peter’s last Sunday. Forward Antonio Chandler added a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds in that victory. Fairfield counters with its own momentum, coming off an 85-79 road win at Quinnipiac. Guard Eric Mejia was pivotal in that victory, posting 16 points, five rebounds and six assists. His backcourt mate, Braden Sparks, leads the team in scoring and dropped 21 points against Quinnipiac. The Saints have shown resilience on the road in MAAC play, but the Stags have been strong at home, making this a compelling matchup of strengths. Siena’s offensive firepower, spearheaded by Doty, will test a Fairfield defense that has allowed an average of just 68.3 points in its last three home games. With the regular season winding down, this game carries significant weight for postseason positioning. A Fairfield win would forge a tie in the loss column and potentially swing the tiebreaker, while a Siena victory would solidify its top-four standing. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST on Friday, Feb. 27.