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Recent Reitz Arena Success
The Niagara Purple Eagles continue their five-game road swing with a matchup against defending MAAC champions Loyola on Wednesday, Dec. 8 at 7:30 p.m.

Niagara (2-5, 0-1 MAAC) is out to snap its three-game skid during its longest road trip of the season.

Niagara, which leads the all-time series with Loyola, has won 10 of the last 13 encounters. The teams met three times last season; both teams won on the other’s court and Loyola (7-2, 0-0 MAAC) took the rubber match in the MAAC Tournament Quarterfinals. The Purple Eagles have had success at Reitz Arena, winning the last five including last season’s trip when the Purple Eagles ended the game on a 9-0 run to win 66-61.
 
Tipoff Tidbits
~ Joe Mihalich is two wins away from 250 for his career.
~ Joe Mihalich’s 25 career wins versus Loyola are the most against any team.
~ NU is 16-11 in MAAC December games and is 3-1 versus Loyola in December under Joe Mihalich.
~ NU is 27th in the nation and second in the MAAC with 8.4 3-pointers per game.
~ Reigning MAAC Rookie of the Week T.J. Cline grabbed a career-best 11 rebounds at Central Michigan on Sunday. Cline led NU in bench scoring with nine points.
~ Antoine Mason leads the team and is third in the conference with 19.3 points per game. Mason recorded consecutive 20-point games last week at Iona and Central Michigan.
~ NU ranks in the top half of the conference in scoring, field goal percentage, 3-point field goal percentage, assists per game, steals per game, assist/turnover ratio and turnover margin
 
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 30 percent (104) of the current head coaches have at least 250 wins.
 
Big Week For Lil Mase
Antoine Mason averaged 24 points per game, while shooting 60 percent from the field, and averaged 5.0 rebounds per game in contests at Iona and Central Michigan. Mason led Niagara in scoring (24.0 ppg), field goal percentage (60 percent) and free throw percentage (73.3 percent) in two games.
Mason recorded consecutive 20-point games to accumulate three 20-point games this season.  Mason netted 24 points in 24 minutes in the conference opener at Iona; he finished with five rebounds and went 5-for-6 at the free-throw line. At CMU, Mason played the entire 40 minutes while tying a game-high 24 points and added five rebounds.
 
On The Court
Loyola Greyhounds (7-2/0-0 MAAC)
Loyola is off to its second best start in school Division I history. The Greyhounds had their six-game winning streak snapped in their previous game. The Preseason MAAC favorites are led by preseason conference player of the year Erik Etherly (15.7 ppg and 8.0 rpg), Dylon Cormier (17.7 ppg) and Robert Olson (11.6 ppg).
 
Against the Greyhounds (NU leads 34-17)
Niagara has a commanding 34-17 lead in the all-time series. The Purple Eagles have won 10 of the last 13 encounters, including winning five straight at Loyola.