~ Niagara owns the all-time series record with Canisius, 97-73. Niagara has won 15 of the last 18 meetings, including eight straight at home.
~ Since the 2006-07, Niagara is 32-11 including a 20-3 record at the Gallagher Center in the month of February.
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Marvin Jordan leads the MAAC in 3-pointers made (74) and is 17th in the nation.
~ Jordan is one 3-pointer shy of tying the sophomore record in 3-pointers of 75.
~ Juan’ya Green is second among the nation’s freshmen in scoring with 17.1 points per game. Green is third in the MAAC in scoring, in assists per game (4.4) and free throw percentage (81.0) and second in steals per game (1.8).
~ Green needs six points to pass Garry Jordan (‘81) for most points by a freshman in program history and needs six steals to set the freshman record for most steals.
~ NU is the third youngest team in the nation, according to KenPom.com.
~ Niagara is 11-2 under Joe Mihalich in home finales, including winning the last five. Mihalich is 11-2 at home against Canisius and is 3-1 versus the Golden Griffins on senior day.
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. Some tickets are still available in the chairback seats section. Tickets can also be purchased online at www.PurpleEagles.com. The Gallagher Center Ticket Office opens one hour prior to tip-off.
How To Tune In
Wednesday’s game will be broadcast live on Time Warner Cable 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 550 AM. Internet listeners can listen free online through Purple Eagles All-Access.
Youthful Experience
According to the weighted formula by KenPom.com, Niagara is the third youngest team in the nation out of 345 teams. The Purple Eagles, whose nine of their 12 players are underclassmen, have a 0.59 rating; in contrast the most experience team in the country is Lamar at 2.60. NU is ahead of Boston College and St. John’s.
Green Amongst Nation’s Top Frosh
Juan’ya Green is averaging 17.1 points per game to rank second amongst freshmen.
Green, Mason Eyeing Freshman Records
Juan’ya Green is on pace to set the Niagara freshman scoring record which is currently held by Garry Jordan who scored 467 points during the 1977-78 season. Green has 462 points on the season and needs five points to tie the record. Green needs 33 field goals to break Jordan’s freshman field goals record (185).
Antoine Mason is third with 399 points and is 68 points and 46 field goals behind Jordan. Mason had a medical redshirt last season after playing in the first three games.
On Jan. 29, Green had made nine free throws to set the freshman single-season which was previously held by Jordan (97).
Green is also closing in on the steals and assists. He needs five steals to reach Ronnell Felton’s 53 steals and 31 assists to tie Gary Bossert’s total of 151 set in 1986.
Little 3 Love
The Purple Eagles have dominated the Little 3 in recent seasons, owning a 23-4 record in the last 27 games against Canisius and St. Bonaventure. Niagara is 15-3 versus the Golden Griffins since Feb. 12, 2003 and 8-1 against St. Bonaventure who snapped NU’s eight-game win streak on Dec. 30, 72-70.
On The Court
Canisius Golden Griffins (4-21, 1-14 MAAC)
Canisius has lost nine straight, including falling at home to Niagara on Jan. 19. Three players are averaging in double figures, led by Harold Washington (16.8). Canisius is last in the conference in scoring defense, scoring margin, field goal percentage and assists per game; however is leads the MAAC in free throw percentage (73.5).
Against the Golden Griffins (Niagara leads 97-73)
The 170 previous meetings are the most against a single opponent in both schools’ history. Niagara has dominated the series with its archrivals, including winning 15 of the last 18 meetings.
Last Meeting - January 9, 2012
Niagara 75, Canisius 56
BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Niagara men’s basketball team recorded its largest road win in its storied history with the Canisius Golden Griffins in 29 years with a cultivating 75-56 victory on Thursday at the Koessler Athletic Center in the National MAAC Game of the Week on ESPN3.
Battle of the Bridge
The Battle of the Bridge, the all-sports competition between cross-town rivals Niagara University and Canisius College, enters its sixth season in 2011-12. 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. With the series tied 2-2, Canisius edged Niagara for the 2010-11 title.
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, 10.5-6.5. The winner of the basketball game will receive two points.
February Fever
Niagara is 31-11 since the 2006-07 season, including a splendid 20-3 mark at the Gallagher Center. The Purple Eagles opened February with two narrow defeats on the road dates and before topping Siena (Feb. 9) and Rider (Feb. 11) at home. Niagara has five straight seasons with a winning record during this month.
Ali KUMBAYA!
Ali Langford has etched his name in Purple Eagles history with his game-winning dunk against Rider with 3.7 seconds left on Feb. 11. The junior college transfer from Salt Lake City scored the game’s final points as NU erased a 17-point second half deficit.
Trey Bien
Marvin Jordan is on the verge of holding the freshman and sophomore record in 3-pointers. Jordan, who set the freshman mark with 77 last season, is one 3-pointer shy of tying the sophomore record of 75, which was set during the 1999-2000 season by recently inducted Niagara Hall of Famer Daryl Greene.
Winning The Turnover Battle
Niagara has controlled the turnover battle in 2012. The Purple Eagles have committed fewer turnovers than their opponent in 11 of the 13 games, including eight straight games. The only games during the stretch NU didn’t have fewer turnovers were at Iona (13 turnovers a piece) and at Rider (15-13).
BracketBuster Opponent Announced
Niagara will play at the Vermont Catamounts in the 10th Annual Sears BracketBusters on Feb. 18 at 2 p.m. The Purple Eagles have won five straight in the series and are 5-2 in the event since first participating during the 2004-05 season. Niagara leads the all-time series with Vermont, 15-2.
