NU Looks To Break Deadlock

The Niagara Purple Eagles look to bounce back from Friday’s MAAC opener with a contest with the Iona Gaels on Sunday at 2 p.m. from the Hynes Center.

Sunday’s meeting will be the 67th all-time between the programs; each team has won 33 times. The Purple Eagles have won seven of the last nine meetings, including three of the last four at Iona. The teams last met in the 2010 MAAC Tournament Quarterfinals with the sixth-seeded Purple Eagles knocking off No. 3 seed Iona, 68-64. The victory put Niagara in the semifinals for the ninth time in head coach Joe Mihalich’s 12-year tenure. 

Ready for Action

s Niagara dropped its first conference opener in four seasons in Friday’s night loss at Marist. The loss also snapped the Purple Eagles’ four-game win streak versus Marist.

s Niagara continues its eight-game road trip this weekend. The trip began with three games in the Legends Classic in Detroit and will also include rivalry trips to UB and St. Bonaventure. Niagara’s next home game will be on Dec. 22.

s Senior floor general Anthony Nelson made his season debut during the Legends Classic after missing the first three games of the season. He set a new career-high with 31 points at Detroit in his third game back.

s Junior forward Kashief Edwards has scored in double-figures in six out of seven games this season, including the last four games. Edwards ranks fifth in the conference in scoring (14.7) and third in the conference in offensive rebounds per game.  

s Freshman guard Skylar Jones had a career-high 20 points in Niagara’s last game.

s Freshman guard Marvin Jordan was named MAAC Rookie of the Week on Nov. 29. Jordan averaged 12.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.5 apg and 1.8 spg in four games.

How To Tune In

Fans can listen live to all of the action, called by “The Voice of the Purple Eagles” Todd Callen, free through Yahoo! Sports live web-streaming and on WWKB 1520 AM.

Glad You’re Back

Niagara finally had its leader back on the court. Anthony Nelson, NU’s lone senior, made his season debut on Nov. 26 in the 65-61 win over Bowling Green in the Legends Classic. Nelson missed the first three games of the season due to an injury.

Nelson immediately made an impact to the Purple Eagles offense. On Nov. 28, he set career-highs with 31 points and 11 field goals, while tying a career-high with three 3-pointers. His 31 points were the most by a Purple Eagle since Tyrone Lewis scored 31 points at Manhattan on Jan. 31, 2009. 

MAAC Honors For Jordan

Freshman guard Marvin Jordan was named MAAC Rookie of the Week on Nov. 27. Jordan paced Niagara to a 2-2 week while leading  the team in scoring twice with consecutive career-high scoring outputs in wins over Mount St. Mary’s and Bowling Green.  Jordan scored 14 points in the comeback win over MSM and set a new career-high with 17 points in the win over Bowling Green. Jordan had seven assists, four rebounds, four steals and zero turnovers in the two wins. Jordan also scored 14 points against Detroit in the final game of the Legends Classic on Sunday. In four games last week, Jordan averaged 12.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.5 apg and 1.8 spg.

Seizing the Rock

Niagara is taking care of the rock, while taking it away from the opposition. The Purple Eagles are second in the MAAC with a +1.83 turnover margin and third in the conference with 7.5 spg.

On The Court

Iona Gaels (4-3, 1-0 MAAC)

Iona enters Sunday’s game on a four-game winning streak. The Gaels won their conference opener over Canisius on Friday night.

Against the Gaels (Tied 33-33)

The Purple Eagles and the Gaels have split all 66 meetings. Niagara has won seven of the last nine meeetings, including three of the last four at Iona.