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MAAC Streak
The Niagara Purple Eagles, who are off to their best conference start in four seasons, conclude their road trip versus the Fairfield Stags on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Niagara (8-8, 4-1 MAAC) handled Saint Peter’s on Friday, 77-58, to stay in a first-place tie with a 4-1 record. The Purple Eagles are 5-2 in their last seven games and their four-game conference winning streak is tied with Loyola for the active longest. NU’s 4-1 start is its best since the 2008-09 season, which is also the last time Niagara swept the season series with Sunday’s opponent Fairfield (10-7, 2-3 MAAC).

The Purple Eagles halted their six-game skid to the Stags eight days ago with a 71-67 win at the Gallagher Center. Juan'ya Green recorded his fourth career 30-point game with a game-high 31 points in the win. Green has averaged 27 points in the three meetings with Fairfield, including his top two scoring outputs.

Tipoff Tidbits
~ Juan’ya Green is averaging 22 points (57 FG%) and 5 assists in the last four games. He was named MAAC Player of the Week for the first time in his career on Jan. 7.
~ Antoine Mason tied his career-high with 26 points in the win at Saint Peter’s on Friday. Mason is second in the conference in scoring with 18.4 per game. He has scored in double figures in 23 straight games.
~ DYNAMIC DUO: Mason and Green each rank in the top-5 in the conference in scoring. Only Iona has two players in the top-5.
~ The Purple Eagles lead the MAAC in steals (8.0) and turnover margin (+3.88) while placing second in points (74.5) and in assist/turnover ratio (+1.1)
~ Green moved to 50th all-time in points (859) at Niagara. He needs 18 points to tie Gerry Henry (’85) for 49th place. Mason is close behind in 54th place (842) and Marvin Jordan is in 60th (811).

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.

Green Earns First MAAC POW
Juan’ya Green was named Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Player of the Week on Monday for the first time in his career on Jan. 7 after leading Niagara to wins over Marist and Fairfield. Green averaged 26.0 points per game while shooting a blistering 65.5 percent (19-for-29) from the field and 92.3 percent (12-for-13) at the free throw-line line and led the team with 4.0 assists per game and 3.0 steals per game. In the Fairfield win, Green led all scorers with a season-high 31 points, which is the most by a Purple Eagle this season, for his fourth career 30-point game. Green’s game-high 12 free throws tied a career-best and are the most this season for NU.

Double Figures Scoring
Antoine Mason has scored in double figures through the first 16 games this season and in 23 straight games dating back to last season. Mason’s streak to open the season is the longest since backcourt teammate Juan’ya Green started last season scoring in double figures in the first 18 games. Mason’s 23 straight games streak is the longest since Charron Fisher completed the feat 53 straight times from 2006-08 (all 29 games in 2007-08). 

On The Court
Fairfield Stags (10-7, 2-3 MAAC)
Fairfield has lost its last two games after winning six straight. NU ended the Stags’ streak on Jan. 5 and they fell in overtime at Loyola on Friday. Derek Needham leads Fairfield in scoring at 13.6 per contest. Desmond Wade leads in assists with 4.2 per game and Keith Matthews leads in rebounding with 4.8 per game.

Against the Stags (Niagara, 36-26)
Niagara leads the series with Fairfield, 36-26, in a series which began during the 1965-66 season. Niagara snapped its six-game skid in the series with a 71-67 win on Jan. 5 and will be looking for its first sweep in the series since the 2008-09 season.

Last Meeting - January 5, 2013
NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. –  The Niagara Purple Eagles wrapped up their conference home opening weekend by edging the Fairfield Stags, 71-67, in a battle of first place teams on Saturday.