~ Since the 2006-07, Niagara is 30-11 including an 18-3 record at the Gallagher Center in the month of February
~
Marvin Jordan’s career-high eight 3-pointers at Rider on Sunday are tied for the second most 3-pointers and are the most ever by a sophomore in program history. Jordan leads the MAAC in 3-pointers made (66) and is 23rd in the nation.
~ Jordan is nine 3-pointers shy of tying the sophomore record in 3-pointers of 75, which was set during the 1999-2000 season by Daryl Greene, who will be inducted into the Niagara Athletics Hall of Fame on Friday.
~
Juan'ya Green is tied for second among the nation’s freshmen in scoring with 16.7 points per game. Green is fourth in the MAAC in scoring and third in assists per game (4.4) and in steals per game (1.7).
~ Green needs 50 points to pass Garry Jordan (‘81) for most points by a freshman in program history and needs 11 steals to set the freshman record for most steals.
~ Green (8) and
Malcolm Lemmons (10) each had career-highs in rebounds in the previous encounter with Siena.
~ NU is second in the MAAC with a +2.8 turnover margin and 38th in the nation.
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
Thursday’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 0.60 rating; in contrast the most experience team in the country is Lamar at 2.58. NU is ahead of Boston College and St. John’s.
February Fever
Niagara is 30-11 since the 2006-07 season, including a splendid 18-3 mark at the Gallagher Center. The Purple Eagles opened February with two narrow defeats on the road dates and will close out their home schedule with three straight games beginning Thursday. Niagara has five straight seasons with a winning record during this month.
Green Amongst Nation’s Top Frosh
Juan’ya Green is averaging 16.7 points per game to rank tied for second amongst freshmen.
33333333-Point Goal!
Marvin Jordan had a record setting performance from behind the 3-point line on Feb. 5 at Rider which a career-high 8 3-pointers which accounted for his game-high 24 points. Jordan’s eight triples are the second most 3-pointers in the MAAC and 12th most in the NCAA this season; he also tied the Alumni Gym record in 3-pointers which was set in 1993 by Long Island’s Joe Griffin. Jordan’s eight treys are the most by sophomore and are tied for second most in program history.
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 418 points on the season and needs to average at least 8.2 points per game for the rest of the season. Green needs 47 field goals to break Jordan’s freshman field goals record (185).
Antoine Mason is third with 384 points and is 83 points and is 52 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 10 steals to reach Ronnell Felton’s 53 steals and 41 assists to tie Gary Bossert’s total of 151 set in 1986.
On The Court
Siena Saints (10-13, 5-8 MAAC)
Siena comes to the Gallagher Center on a three-game skid with defeats against Rider, Saint Peter’s and Fairfield. OD Anosike leads the team in scoring with 15.1 points per game and leads the nation with 13.3 rebounds per game. Evan Hymes (14.2 ppg) and Kyle Downey (12,7 ppg) also average double figures scoring.
Against the Saints (Tied 43-43)
The Purple Eagles have split the last four games with the Saints. Siena defeated NU on Jan. 8. Niagara has won the last three meetings at home.
Last Meeting - January 8, 2012
ALBANY, N.Y . – The Niagara men’s basketball team fell to the Siena Saints, 72-60, on Sunday to conclude its three-game road trip.
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 11 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.
