Fairleigh Dickinson University and Monmouth University have had a long-standing intrastate rivalry and the winner of the season series will now be honored with the Governor Codey Trophy, formerly the Garden State Rivalry Trophy.
"I am very appreciative of my Alma Mater and Monmouth for recognizing me in this way," said Governor Richard J. Codey, a 1981 graduate of Fairleigh Dickinson. "This has always been a great college basketball rivalry and I am happy to be linked with this series."
The Garden State Rivalry Series was established in 2008, with the winner of the season series (both meetings between both the men's and women's basketball teams) taking home the trophy.
Last season, FDU successfully defended the title taking a 3-1 advantage in the four games. By point totals, the Knights out-scored the Hawks, 269-258. In the inaugural year, Monmouth and FDU split the four-game series (2-2) but FDU took the award home on a total point tie-breaker (269-263).
The two schools will meet in double-headers this week as part of the Northeast Conference Rivalry Week with the first meeting taking place on February 4, at the Stratis Arena in Hackensack, NJ, and again February 6, at the Multipurpose Activity Center in West Long Branch, NJ. At the conclusion of the two games on February 6, the Codey Trophy, will be presented by Governor Codey to the winning program.
On February 4, the women's teams will play at 5:00 p.m., with the men's game following at 7:30 p.m. On February 6, the men will play at Noon in a live televised game on Madison Square Garden Network and the women's game will follow at 3:00 p.m.
Codey served as Governor for the State of New Jersey from November 2004 through January 2006 following the resignation of James McGreevey. Codey again served as Acting Governor from April 12, 2007 to May 7, 2007, when Governor Jon Corzine was involved in a serious automobile accident.
