The Final Stretch

Niagara, which has won four of its last five games, will look to continue its dominance over Loyola when it hosts the Greyhounds on Friday for a 7:05 tip airing live on Time Warner SportsNet.

The Purple Eagles rallied from a 13-point second half deficit to edge the Greyhounds, 59-57, at Reitz Arena on Feb. 11 to extend their win streak versus Loyola to nine games. Niagara, which leads the all-time series 33-14, is 24-3 under Joe Mihalich and has won 13 straight meetings at the Gallagher Center.

Niagara heads into its final weekend of play with its best run of results since winning four straight from Feb. 12-26, 2010.

s Niagara defeated Central Michigan on Saturday to win its fifth straight BracketBuster game and improved to 3-0 all-time versus the Chippewas.

s The Purple Eagles held Central Michigan to 55 points for their second fewest points allowed this season. NU has held its last four opponents to 59.5 ppg (3-1) which is 10.9 points under its season average.

s Anthony Nelson tied the all-time assists record of 630 held by Alvin Cruz (‘05) with his seventh and final assist in Niagara’s win over CMU on Feb. 19.

s Niagara leads the conference and ranks 38th in the nation in steals per game with 8.1 per contest.

s Nelson leads 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) and is four steals shy of tying Lewis for the single-season record of 91.

s Niagara is 29-8 in the month of February over the last five seasons.

s The Purple Eagles can wrap up the eighth seed in next week’s MAAC Tournament with a win and losses by Manhattan and Marist on Friday.

Get Your Tickets!       

 Tickets for the game are still available. Fans can guarantee their seats by purchasing tickets in advance with no additional service fees by calling the Ticket Office at (716) 286-8499. Tickets can also be purchased online at www.PurpleEagles.com. If available, tickets can be purchased at the door. The Gallagher Center Ticket Office opens one hour prior to tip-off.

How To Tune In        

Friday’s game will be televised live on Time Warner Cable with Ben Wagner and Mike Scott on the call. NU fans can 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.

The Full Nelson

Anthony Nelson will conclude his career at the Gallagher Center as one of the best players to ever wear the Purple and White. Nelson tied the all-time career assists record on Feb. 19 and will become the all-time leader with his next assist. He is currently second all-time in career steals with 219 and needs five more steals to set the single-season record of 91 which is held by former teammate Tyrone Lewis.

One Of A Kind

Anthony Nelson is the only Purple Eagle in the 104 years of basketball to have over 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 600 assists and 200 steals. Nelson reached 1,000 points and 500 rebounds on Jan. 15 and reached the 200 steals plateau on Feb. 4. He eclipsed the 600 assists mark on Feb. 6 with a career-best 14 dimes.

February Fever

NU is 4-2 through six games in February. NU started the month snapping a seven-game losing streak on Feb. 6 versus Marist and clipping Loyola in their next game to win consecutive games for only the second time this season. The Purple Eagles have used this month to gear up for a successful run in March over the last few years. Niagara is 29-8 in February since the 2006-07, with four of those losses coming against Rider.

MAAC Tourney On The Horizon

 The 2011 Spark Energy MAAC Championship is around the corner. The latest edition of the 10-team tournament begins on Friday, March 4 at the Webster Bank Arena at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport, Conn. Niagara will play in the first round on Friday at either 7:30 or 9:30 p.m. For tickets in the Niagara Section contact the Niagara Athletic Ticket Office at 716- 286-8499.
 

On The Court

Loyola Greyhounds (14-13,9-7 MAAC)

Loyola comes to Monteagle Ridge after dropping Towson its Sears BracketBuster game to alternate wins/losses in its last nine games. Three Greyhounds are averaging in double figures scoring, led by junior forward Shane Walker at 11.4 ppg. Senior guard Brian Rudolph leads the team with 4.4 apg and sophomore Erik Etherly leads the team with 7.7 rpg.

Against the Greyhounds (NU leads 33-14)

Niagara has a commanding 33-14 lead in the all-time series. The Purple Eagles have won the last nine meetings and won the last 13 encounters at the Gallagher Center.

Last Meeting - February 11, 2011

BALTIMORE, Md. - The Niagara men’s basketball team erased a 13-point second half deficit to defeat the Loyola Greyhounds, 59-57, on Friday night at the Reitz Arena.

BracketBusters Success

Niagara erased a nine-point second half deficit to beat the Central Michigan Chippewas in the 2011 Sears BracketBuster on Feb. 19 at the ‘Taps’ Gallagher Center. The victory was NU’s fifth straight in the series and improved its record in the event to 5-2 since first participating in the series during the 2004-05 season. NU has victories over Liberty (2007), Appalachian State (2008), Illinois State (2009) , Milwaukee (2010) and Central Michigan (2011).