Non-Conference Schedule
NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The Niagara Purple Eagles have announced their complete non-conference schedule for the 2017-18 season. The Purple Eagles' demanding 13-game slate will have them face Big Ten, Atlantic 10 and West Coast Conference opponents, as well as renewing series with old foes.
"We have a challenging out of conference schedule that begins with a traditional rivalry at St. Bonaventure," head coach
Chris Casey said. "The Barclays Classic will feature two road games against BYU and UMass and two home games in a four-team tournament hosted at the Gallagher Center. We also have an additional four games scheduled at home and the six total home contests are the most we've had on campus in a number of years. A road game at Minnesota, which should start the season in the Top 25, adds to the competitive level of the schedule. Overall, the schedule should prepare us well for MAAC conference play."
Niagara opens the season with four challenging road games. The Purple Eagles tip-off the season at Little 3 rival St. Bonaventure on Friday, Nov. 10 at 8 p.m. NU will then face the Big Ten's Minnesota Gophers, who played in the 2017 NCAA Tournament, on Nov. 15.
The Purple Eagles' next four games will be a part of the Barclays Center Classic, with all games played on campus, beginning against UMass on Nov. 19. NU will then head west to play BYU on Nov. 21 to wrap up its season-opening road trip.
NU opens its home schedule by hosting a four-game tournament as part of the Barclays Center Classic on Nov. 24-25. Niagara plays Alabama A&M on Nov. 24 at 4 p.m., followed by Texas Arlington versus Western Carolina at 7 p.m. The next day, Niagara will play at 7 p.m. against either Western Carolina or Texas Arlington, with Alabama A&M versus WCU/UTA preceding.
NU continues its home stand with meetings against Army on Nov. 27 and Big 4 rival Buffalo on Nov. 29.
The Purple Eagles will then alternate away/home games in their final five non-conference games. Niagara visits New Hampshire on Dec. 5, followed by a home meeting with St. Francis (Pa.) on Dec. 10. NU will travel to Virginia to face Norfolk State on Dec. 16 before returning home to face Cleveland State on Dec. 19. Niagara's final non-conference game is at Cornell on Dec. 23.
Head coach
Chris Casey will be in his fifth season leading the program. The Purple Eagles return eight letterwinners from last season, including the entire starting five –
Matt Scott,
Kahlil Dukes,
Chris Barton,
Marvin Prochet and
Dominic Robb. Scott, a two-time All-MAAC Third Team selection, finished last season fifth in the MAAC in scoring (17.0 ppg), sixth in rebounding (7.0 rpg) and seventh in steals (1.4 spg). Dukes set the program's single season free throw percentage record (92.1%) and finished the season tied for fifth in the nation. Robb broke the program's single season block record with 74 to lead the MAAC. Prochet was third on the team in scoring and rebounding while setting career highs in points, rebounds, blocks, steals, assists, field goal percentage and free throw percentage. Barton started in 21 games last season and was second on the team in field goal percentage (45.1%). Top returning reserves are guards
Kevin Larkin and
James Towns, while forwards
Greg King and
Kierell Green will make their debuts as Purple Eagles after redshirting last season. NU added three newcomers to the team in Dominik Fragala,
Greg Kuakumensah and
Keleaf Tate.
For ticket information, contact the Niagara Athletic Ticket Office at 716-286 TIXX,
tickets@Niagara.edu or
www.PurpleEagles.com/Tickets.
Stay connected with the Purple Eagles through social media. Follow Niagara Athletics on Twitter
@NUPurpleEagles and for men's basketball updates at
@NiagaraMBB. Check in with the Purple Eagles on
Facebook/PurpleEagles and on Instagram
@NUPurpleEagles.
Non-Conference Schedule Notes
This will be the earliest meeting between Niagara and St. Bonaventure in a series that began in 1920…The Purple Eagles and Golden Gophers have split both all-time meetings which were played in the early 1970s…NU trails UMass, 6-1, in the all-time series…Niagara and BYU will play for the first time since Dec. 11, 1976…This will be the first meeting between Niagara and Alabama A&M…NU fell to Western Carolina in the only previous meeting on Nov. 22, 2013 as part of the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic Kent State Subregional…Niagara and UT Arlington have never played each other…The series between the Purple Eagles and Black Knights is knotted at 7-7 and is the teams' first meeting since the 1989-90 season…NU will host Buffalo for the second straight season…Niagara leads the all-time series with New Hampshire, 12-5, including winning 10 of the last 11 meetings and will be the first meeting since Jan. 1989…NU has won the last four meetings against St. Francis (Pa.)…The Purple Eagles defeated Norfolk State, 65-61, last season to improve to 2-0 in the all-time series…NU and Cleveland State have hosted each other six times, with the home team winning each time; the last meeting was held at a neutral court on Dec. 28, 1987 in Milwaukee, Wisc…Niagara and Cornell have met 47 times dating back to the 1908-09 season, but haven't played each other since Jan. 9, 1992 (Niagara won 80-66).
