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Game 13
Niagara (3-9, 1-1 MAAC) vs. LIU Brooklyn Blackbirds (7-5, 0-0 NEC)
Wednesday, December 21 – 7:30 p.m.
Barclays Center – Brooklyn, New York
Radio: WGR 550 AM
 
    The Niagara Purple Eagles wrap up their 2016 calendar with a meeting with the LIU Brooklyn Blackbirds on Wednesday, December 21 at 7:30 from the Barclays Center, the home of the NBA's Brooklyn Nets.
 
Scene Setter
•  The series between Niagara and LIU Brooklyn resumed last season for the first time since November 1998.
•  The Blackbirds left the Gallagher Center with an 80-79 victory in overtime, which was the third overtime game in 14 all-time meetings.
•  Wednesday's game will be the second neutral court meeting between the teams with the first coming on December 17, 1970 at Madison Square Garden with the Purple Eagles winning 76-70.
•  Eight of Niagara's 12 games have been on the road.
•  This will be the Purple Eagles' second straight game playing in a professional arena. Niagara played St. Bonaventure in the KeyBank Center, home of the NHL's Buffalo Sabres and will serve as a site for the 2017 NCAA Tournament First and Second Rounds, as part of the Big 4 Classic.
•  This will be Niagara's final non-conference game of the regular season as the Purple Eagles step back into MAAC play on January 2 against Quinnipiac at the Gallagher Center. 
 
Tipoff Tidbits
•  Two Purple Eagles rank in the MAAC top-10 in scoring; Matt Scott is sixth with 17.0 points per game and Kahlil Dukes is ninth with 16.5 points per game.
•  Kahlil Dukes is the only Purple Eagle to score in double figures in every game, including a career-high 23 points at North Texas. Dukes has had consecutive 20-point games, netting 20 points at Youngstown State and scored a team-high 21 points against St. Bonaventure.
•  Kahlil Dukes leads the MAAC and is seventh in the nation in free-throw percentage (.952).
•  Dominic Robb leads the MAAC and is 46th in the nation with 2.0 blocks per game while also leading the MAAC and is 29th in the nation in total blocks (25). 
•  Freshman Shane Gatling has set career-high marks in scoring in three of the last five games, including a career-high 24 points to lead Niagara at Youngstown State on December 14 for the most points by a true freshman in five seasons. 
• Niagara leads the MAAC in blocked shots per game (4.6), total blocks (55), free throws made (206), and free throw attempts (267), and is second in free throw shooting (.772).
 
Scott Approaching 1,000-Point Club
•  Junior guard Matt Scott is approaching the 1,000-Point Club at Niagara University.
•  Scott is 185 points away from becoming the 46th member of the club.
 
On The Court
LIU Brooklyn Blackbirds (7-5, 0-0 NEC)
•  The Blackbirds have lost four of their last five games entering Wednesday's game. The lone win was against St. John's on December 11.
•  LIU Brooklyn has had two three-game winning streaks this season.
•  Redshirt senior forward and NEC Preseason All-Conference selection Jerome Frink leads the team in scoring with 17.3 points per game and in rebounding with 8.0 per game.
•  Iverson Fleming and Jashaun Agosto are averaging 14.1 and 11.2 points per game, respectively.
•  The Blackbirds lead the NEC in field goal percentage defense (.436), offensive rebounds per game (38.1), total blocks (52) and blocks per game (4.3).
• LIU Brooklyn was picked fourth in the NEC Preseason Poll.
 
Against Common Opponents
•  Niagara and LIU Brooklyn each played Hartford this season. NU fell in overtime while the Blackbirds won 75-68.
   
Against the Blackbirds (Niagara leads 8-6)
•  The Purple Eagles lead the all-time series with Long Island Brooklyn, which started during the 1935-36 season.
•  Niagara is 4-2 all-time in road/neutral games in the series.
 
Last Meeting – December 12, 2015
LIU Brooklyn 80, Niagara 79 (Overtime)
 
NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – In a game that featured 13 lead changes and 12 ties, the Niagara University Purple Eagles suffered a heartbreaking 80-79 defeat to the LIU Brooklyn Blackbirds in overtime.
 

The Series	Niagara leads 8-6
Last Game	December 12, 2015
	LIU Brooklyn 80, Niagara 79 (OT)
Last Niagara win	November 30, 1998
	Niagara 79, LIU Brooklyn 73
Last LIU Brooklyn win	December 12, 2015
	LIU Brooklyn 80, Niagara 79 (OT)
Last Niagara win at Barclays Center	First Meeting
Last LIU Brooklyn win at Barclays Center	First Meeting
Current Streak	LIU Brooklyn, W1
Coach Casey vs. LIU Brooklyn	0-1