Road Trip Continues
After a rare November conference game, Niagara continues its non-conference schedule with a matchup against Central Michigan on Sunday at 2 p.m.

The Purple Eagles, who are playing their third of five straight away games, are in search of halting their two-game skid. After a narrow defeat against Little 3 rival St. Bonaventure, NU was clipped in its conference opener at Iona. Four Purple Eagles were in double figures, led by Antoine Mason who recorded his second 20-point game of the season (24).

Niagara has won all three meetings with Central Michigan. The most recent encounter was during the 2010-11 season when the Purple Eagles erased a nine-point second half deficit with an 18-2 run en route to a 61-55 win in the 2011 Sears BracketBuster contest at the Gallagher Center. Marvin Jordan, then a freshman, led Niagara with 14 points.

Tipoff Tidbits

~  Joe Mihalich is two wins away from 250 for his career.
~ The Purple Eagles’ 78.8 points per game are 33rd in the nation and they are 15th in the nation with 9.2 3-pointers per game.
~ Juan’ya Green is second the conference and is 30th in the nation with 5.8 assists per game. Green has had at least five assists in every game this season.
~ NU leads the MAAC with 15.7 apg and with a 1.3 assist/turnover ratio.
~ T.J. Cline became the first Purple Eagle to win a MAAC weekly award when he was named rookie of the week on Nov. 26.
~ Ameen Tanksley recorded NU’s first double-double of the season with 13 points and 11 rebounds at Iona on Nov. 28.
~ Tahjere McCall has an assists percentage of 36.7, which is 44th best in the nation

How To Tune In
NU fans can listen live to all the action from “The Voice of the Purple Eagles” Todd Callen. The matchup can be heard live on WGR 1520 AM. Internet listeners can listen free online through Purple Eagles All-Access.

Mihalich Approaching 250 Wins
Joe Mihalich is two wins away from reaching 250 wins for his career. Mihalich, who is in his 15th season as head coach, is the all-time winningest head coach in MAAC history. Out of the 347 Division I programs, only 29 percent (102) of the current head coaches have at least 250 wins.

Efficiency Rating
Niagara ranks in the top 30 nationally in two statistical categories, according to KenPom.com. The Purple Eagles are 27th in the nation in turnover percentage and sixth in steals percentage. The numbers represent the percentage of NU possessions in which those things have occurred. NU only has the ball stolen 5.9 percent; Arkansas leads the nation at 5.1 percent. NU has a 16.6 percent in turnover percentage. Arkansas is first in the nation with a 13.2 percentage.

‘Tis The Season For Sharing
Niagara is in a sharing mood this holiday season. The Purple Eagles lead the conference with 15.7 dimes per game, while Juan’ya Green is second in the MAAC and 33rd in the nation with 5.8 assists per game. Green, who led the team in assists as a freshman, is on pace for the fourth highest assists per game in a season in Purple Eagles history.

Cline Captures First MAAC Honors
Freshman forward T.J. Cline was named Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Men’s Basketball Rookie of the Week on Nov. 26. Cline had 11 points, six rebounds and three assists in his first-ever Little 3 rivalry game against St. Bonaventure. Cline set career-highs in rebounds (six), assists (three), free throws (two) and in minutes (27) in the contest played in Rochester, N.Y. Cline’s six rebounds tied a team-high and he was one of four Purple Eagles in double figures scoring.

Dynamic Duo
The backcourt duo of Juan’ya Green and Antoine Mason rank in the top 10 in points and free throw percentage in the conference. Mason and Green, who have scored in double figures in every game this season, are third and seventh, respectively, in the conference in scoring.Mason and Green are sixth and seventh, respectively, in the MAAC in free throws.

On The Court
Central Michigan Chippewas (3-3/0-0 MAC)
CMU is 3-3 entering Sunday’s game. The Chippewas are led by Kyle Randall who is the lone player averaging in double figures (12.7). Chris Fowler leads the team in assists per game (4.0) and in rebounding by John Simons (5.2).

Against the Chippewas (Niagara leads 3-0)
NU has won all three encounters with CMU. Niagara defeated the Chippewas, 61-55, in a 2011 Sears Bracketbuster game at the Gallagher Center. The Purple Eagles won 80-73 on Dec. 23, 2006 in Mount Pleasant, Mich. and topped the Chippewas, 79-73, in the 2007-08 season opener on Nov. 16, 2007 at the Gallagher Center.