~ Niagara is 4-3 on Super Bowl Sunday under Joe Mihalich. NU defeated Marist last season at the Gallagher Center and is 1-1 versus Rider.
~ NU suffered only its second loss (7-2) when leading at halftime on Friday.
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Joe Mihalich is 9 wins away from reaching 250 in his career.
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Juan'ya Green is second amongst the nation’s freshmen in scoring with 17.2 points per game. Green is third in the MAAC in scoring and in assists (4.3) and second in steals (1.7).
~ Green needs 56 points to pass Garry Jordan (‘81) for most points by a freshman in program history.
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Ameen Tanksley recorded his second career double-double with a 12-point, 12-rebound game at Fairfield on Friday. Tanksley, who remains the only Purple Eagle with a double-double, registered his first one versus Fairfield on Dec. 2.
~ NU is second in the MAAC with a +3.04 turnover margin. Niagara has committed fewer turnovers than their opponents in the last eight games.
~ NU closes out its home schedule with three consecutive games beginning on Thursday versus Siena at 7 p.m.
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 WWKB 1520 AM. Internet listeners can listen free online through Purple Eagles All-Access.
February Fever
Niagara is 30-10 since the 2006-07 season, including a splendid 18-3 mark at the Gallagher Center. The Purple Eagles open February with two road dates before closing their home schedule with three straight games followed by three road games. Niagara has five straight seasons with a winning record during this month.
Green 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 412 points on the season and needs to average at least 7.8 points per game for the rest of the season. Green needs 50 field goals to break Jordan’s freshman field goals record (185).
Antoine Mason is third with 369 points and is 98 points 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 10 steals to reach Ronnell Felton’s 53 steals and 49 assists to tie Gary Bossert’s total of 151 set in 1986.
Winning The Turnover Battle
Niagara has controlled the turnover battle in 2012. The Purple Eagles have committed fewer turnovers than their opponent in nine of the 10 games, including the last eight games. The only game during the stretch NU didn’t have fewer turnovers was at Iona (13 turnovers a piece).
On The Court
Rider Broncs (9-15, 6-6 MAAC)
Rider’s three-game winning streak came to an end with a 63-46 defeat at Loyola on Friday. Three Broncs are averaging in double figures led by Jeff Jones (13.0 ppg) followed by Brandon Penn (12.4 ppg) and Daniel Stewart (12.3 ppg) who also leads the team with 7.2 rebounds per game. Rider is second in the conference scoring (72.1 ppg), field goal percentage (.453), 3-point field goal percentage (.376) and 3-pointers per game (7.5).
Against the Broncs (Niagara leads 19-14)
Niagara leads the all-time series 19-14. NU’s four-game losing streak is the longest in series history. The Purple Eagles and Broncs have played in some memorable games in recent years, including the last Niagara victory in the series which was a double overtime win to reach the 2009 MAAC Championship game.
Last Meeting - February 13, 2011
Niagara 50, Rider 61
LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. – The Niagara men’s basketball team saw its two-game win streak come to an end in a 61-50 defeat to the Rider Broncs on Sunday at Alumni Gym.
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.
