In Search Of Repeat Outcome

Niagara continues its rivalry weekend with a Sunday afternoon matchup against the Siena Saints from the Times Union Center. The game will air live on Time Warner Cable starting at 2 p.m.

The Purple Eagles will look for the same performance they had against Siena on Jan. 9. Niagara suffocated the Saints in the second half and was led by senior floor general Anthony Nelson to defeat Siena, 69-55. The Purple Eagles held the Saints to their fewest points total in the series since Jan. 19, 1996 when Niagara won 52-50.

 Ready for Action

s Niagara fell to archrival Canisius in its previous game. The loss was only Niagara’s third in the last 16 meetings.

s In the last meeting with Siena, Nelson had a stat line of 30 points, 10 rebounds and eight steals.

 s Anthony Nelson entered 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 six 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 nine points shy of tying Al Williams for 36th place all-time.

s Marvin Jordan set a career-high in points with 23 in his first-ever game versus Canisius. Jordan is fourth in the conference and leads all MAAC freshmen with 49 3-pointers (2.2 per game).

s Kashief Edwards returned to the lineup on Jan. 28 at Canisius. Edwards had missed his four straight games due to an injury. Edwards had started in every game prior to his injury.

s Eric Williams tied a career-high with nine rebounds against Canisius.

How To Tune In

Sunday’s game will air live on Time Warner Cable. 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 WWKB 1520 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 580 assists and needs 50 to tie Cruz’s 630 assists.

Nelson is third in steals with 194 and needs 56 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.

Jordan’s Time

Freshman Marvin Jordan has been one of the most valuable players this season. The sharpshooter from Peoria, Illi. ranks in the conference’s top 15 in scoring and assists, the top 10 in steals and minutes and the top five in 3-pointers. Jordan set a career-high with 23 points in his first Battle of the Bridge game versus Canisius.

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, second in minutes per game and fourth in assists per game.

On The Court

Siena Saints (8-12, 5-5 MAAC)

Siena has gone 3-2 since its loss to the Purple Eagles on Jan. 9 and is 5-5 in the league. Preseason Player of the Year Ryan Rossiter is averaging in double-digit in scoring (19.5 ppg) and rebounds (12.9 rpg) to lead the Saints. Classmate Clarence Jackson is second in the team in scoring with 15.9 ppg, but has missed eight games this season. 

Against the Saints (Niagara leads 43-41)

Niagara and Siena have combined to win five of the last six conference tournaments, including meeting in the 2007 and 2009 MAAC Championship games. Niagara has won the last two meetings versus Siena.

Last Meeting - January 9, 2011

Siena 55, Niagara 69

NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. - Senior Anthony Nelson’s fourth career double-double inspired Niagara to a 69-55 win over the Siena Saints on Sunday at the Gallagher Center.