Ready For Action
s Niagara owns the all-time series record with Canisius, 95-72. The 167 previous meetings are the most against a single opponent in both schools’ history.

s Joe Mihalich is 19-7 against Canisius during his coaching career, tied for second most victories against one school (Loyola 23).

s Anthony Nelson enters this weekend leading the nation with 3.3 steals per game. Nelson is on pace to shatter the school record in steals per game in a season, which was set by former backcourt teammate Tyrone Lewis during the 2008-09 season (2.6 spg). Nelson needs nine more steals for 200 in his career.

s Nelson became the 41st member of the 1,000-point club when he scored 20 points at Saint Peter’s on Jan. 15. Nelson is six points shy of tying Mike Hanley for 37th place all-time.

s Nelson played the entire 40 minutes for the third straight game against Fairfield. It was the fifth time this season he has played the entire game.

s Marvin Jordan is fifth in the conference and leads all MAAC freshmen with 44 3-pointers (2.1 per game).

s Kashief Edwards missed his fourth straight game of the season on Jan. 23 versus Iona. Edwards had started in every game this season.

s Niagara currently leads the Battle of the Bridge series, 7-4. The cup holders needs 9.5 points to retain the Canal Cup.

How To Tune In

Friday night’s game will air live on ESPNU at 7 p.m. Doug Sherman and Dereck Whittenburg will have the call from the Koessler Athletic Center.

NU fans can also listen live to all the action this season from “The Voice of the Purple Eagles” Todd Callen. The matchup can be heard live on WGR 550 AM. Internet listeners can listen free through Yahoo! Sports live web-streaming.

Moving Up The Charts

Nelson became the 41st member of the 1,000-point club on Jan. 15. The Plainfield, N.J. native accomplished the feat in front of family and friends at Saint Peter’s.

The point guard is also closing in on Alvin Cruz’s all-time assists record. Nelson currently has 576 assists and needs 54 to tie Cruz’s 630 assists.

Nelson is third in steals with 191 and needs 59 steals to tie former teammate Tyrone Lewis for first.

Stealing Your Attention

Anthony Nelson’s eight steals versus Siena put him in a second place tie with six other Purple Eagles. Alvin Young holds the record with nine steals set on Jan. 30, 1999 versus Saint Peter’s. His career-high eight steals rank tied for fourth most in the nation this season.  His 3.3 steals per game leads the nation.

Battle of the Bridge

The Battle of the Bridge, the all-sports competition between cross-town rivals Niagara University and Canisius College, enters its fifth season in 2010-11. After Niagara claimed the inaugural competition, Canisius has won the series the next two years, before Niagara claimed the Canal Cup at the end of the 2009-10 season.

Points are awarded to the winner of regular-season contests, except for cross country, golf and swimming and diving, which will be determined by MAAC Championship standings. The Canal Cup will be awarded to the victor each year.

The name of the series is in reference to the Grand Island Bridge, which each team crosses when traveling to the other’s campus. The name of the trophy is in reference to the Erie Canal, which intersects Niagara County, where Niagara is located, and Erie County, where Canisius is located.

Niagara is currently leading this season’s series, 7-4, and needs 9.5 points to retain the Canal Cup. The winner of the basketball game will receive two points.

On The Court

Canisius Golden Griffins (9-10, 3-6 MAAC)

Canisius defeated the Iona Gaels in its previous game to snap the Gaels’ five-game winning streak. The senior laden Griffins have four members averaging in double-digit scoring, led by Elton Frazier (11.3) who also leads the team in rebounds.

Against the Golden Griffins (Niagara leads 95-72)

The 167 previous meetings are the most against a single opponent in both schools’ history. Niagara has dominated the series with its archrivals, including winning 13 of the last 15 meetings.

Last Meeting - February 5, 2010

Canisius 54, Niagara 66

NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. - Rivalry games seem to bring the best out in the Niagara men’s basketball team. The Purple Eagles used a strong defensive effort throughout the contest to topple crosstown rival Canisius, 66-54, in front of a sold-out ‘Taps’ Gallagher Center on Friday night.

The Series.......................... Niagara leads 95-72

Last Game............................. February 5, 2010

.................................... Canisius 54, Niagara 66

Last Niagara win................... February 5, 2010

.................................... Canisius 54, Niagara 66

Last Canisius win.................. January 29, 2010

............................. Niagara 70, Canisius 73 (ot)

Last Niagara win at Canisius..... Feb. 12, 2009

.................................... Niagara 57, Canisius 41

Last Canisius win at Home........ Jan. 29, 2010

............................. Niagara 70, Canisius 73 (ot)

Current streak................. Niagara, one straight

Coach Mihalich vs. Canisius....................... 19-7

Nelson’s Success Against Rival

Niagara’s point guard Anthony Nelson has been at his best when facing the Purple Eagles biggest rival. The senior floor general has committed just three turnovers in his last five games against Canisius while handing out 27 assists.

In his first career game against the Golden Griffins, Nelson played all 40 minutes and had two turnovers. Since then, he’s had a pair of multiple-assist/zero-turnover games and set a career-high 11 rebounds in the last meeting at the KAC.

All-Conference Numbers For Ant

Senior Anthony Nelson is putting up first team all-conference numbers since missing the first three games of the season due to injury. Nelson, who has scored at 24 points three times this season and set a career-high 31 points at Detroit, is third in the MAAC in scoring. Nelson leads the conference in steals per game, tied for first in minutes per game and fourth in assists per game.