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First Place Purps
The Niagara Purple Eagles, who are off to their best MAAC start in five seasons, return home to face the Siena Saints on Thursday, Jan. 17 at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on Time Warner Cable SportsChannel.

Niagara’s five-game conference win streak has propelled the Purple & White to a first place tie in the MAAC with Iona. The Purple Eagles (9-8, 5-1 MAAC) have defeated Loyola, Marist, Saint Peter’s and Fairfield twice to have the longest active conference win streak in the MAAC. The Purple Eagles’ 5-1 record is their best start to MAAC play since the 2007-08 season (5-1). The sophomore trio of Antoine Mason (18.2 ppg/3.7 rpg), Juan'ya Green (17.8 ppg/4.3 apg) and Ameen Tanksley (11.3/7.3 rpg) have all displayed solid numbers in the six MAAC games this season.

The Purple Eagles have won four straight home meetings against Thursday’s opponent Siena (4-12, 2-4 MAAC).

Tipoff Tidbits
~ Niagara is in search of its first three-game win streak of the season.
~ NU’s 6-1 home record is its best start since the 2007-08 season (6-1).
~ Niagara is 6-2 in its last eight games for its best run since end of the 2010 season.
~ The five-game MAAC win streak is the longest since winning seven straight in Jan.-Feb. 2009.
~ Antoine Mason is third in the conference in scoring with 18.4 points per game. He has scored in double figures in 24 straight games.
~ Ameen Tanksley set his career-high in points with 24 in the previous meeting with Siena.
~ The Purple Eagles lead the MAAC in steals per game (8.2) and turnover margin (+4.29) while placing second in points per game (74.1) and in assist/turnover ratio (+1.1). NU is 15th in the nation in turnover margin.

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/tickets. The Gallagher Center Ticket Office opens one hour prior to tip-off.

How To Tune In
Thursday’s game will be broadcast on Time Warner Cable SportsChannel. 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.

MAAC Start Among Program’s Best
Niagara is off to one of its best start in conference play in its 24-year history as a MAAC member. The Purple Eagles’ 5-1 record is tied for their best start ever and is the first time they are 5-1 through six games since the 2007-08 season

Home Cooking
NU is off to its best start at home since the 2007-08 season. NU is 6-1 through its first seven games which is tied for its second best start under Joe Mihalich.

Double Figures Scoring
Antoine Mason has scored in double figures through the first 17 games this season and in 24 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 24 straight games streak is the longest since Charron Fisher completed the feat 53 straight times from 2006-08 (all 29 games in 2007-08). 

Road Tough
Three of Niagara’s five conference wins have come on the road. This is the first time Niagara has won three of its first four MAAC road games since the 2002-03 season (won four of first five).

On The Court
Siena Saints (4-13, 2-4 MAAC)
Siena has won its last two games after dropping 11 straight. The Saints are led by O.D. Anosike who is averaging a double-double. Anosike leads the team 13.2 ppg and is tied for the nation’s lead in rebounds per game with 11.9.

Against the Saints (Niagara, 44-43)
Niagara has won three of the last five meetings to regain a one-game lead in the all-time series. The Purple Eagles and Saints have split the season series in the last two seasons. NU has won the last three meetings at the Gallagher Center.

Last Meeting - February 9, 2012
NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – A career-high 24 points by birthday boy Ameen Tanksley helped the Niagara Purple Eagles clip the Siena Saints, 58-54, on Friday at the Gallagher Center to snap their five-game losing streak.

Efficiency Rating
Niagara ranks in the top 25 nationally in two statistical categories, according to KenPom.com. The Purple Eagles are 19th in the nation in turnover percentage and 25th in steals percentage. The numbers represent the percentage of NU possessions in which those things have occurred. NU only has the ball stolen 7.9 percent and NU has a 16.8 percent in turnover percentage.

NU is rated first in the MAAC in turnover percentage (14.1) and steal percentage (8.1) and second in offense efficiency (109.6) in conference games only.