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First Place Purps
The Niagara Purple Eagles will bring their seven-game MAAC win streak on the road to face the Siena Saints on Friday, Jan. 25 at 7 p.m. The game can be seen live on Time Warner Cable SportsChannel (Channel 87).

NU (11-8, 7-1 MAAC) sits in sole possession of first place in the MAAC after grinding out a four-point win against Manhattan on Saturday. The Purple Eagles’ 7-1 conference start is their best since head coach Joe Mihalich’s first season (1998-99).

Eight days ago, the Purple Eagles routed Siena for their largest win against the Saints (4-15, 2-6 MAAC) in MAAC play and largest win in the series since the 1950s. Niagara will now look for its first sweep of the Saints since the 2004-05 season while ending its road hex at the Times Union Center, having dropped the last eight meetings against the Saints which includes the 2009 MAAC Championship Game. 

Tipoff Tidbits
~ NU is 8-2 in its last 10 games for its best run since the end of the 2009 season.
~ The seven-game MAAC win streak is the longest since winning seven straight in Jan.-Feb. 2009. NU’s longest MAAC win streak in program history is eight during the 2006-07 season.
~ NU’s conference win streak is the 11th longest conference win streak in the nation.
~ Antoine Mason is third in the conference and 39th in the nation in scoring with 18.4 points per game. He has scored in double figures in 26 straight games (longest by a Purple Eagle since the 2007-08 season).
~ T.J. Cline earned his second MAAC Rookie of the Week award on Jan. 21. Cline averaged 12 points per game and five rebounds per game.
~ Niagara made 38 free throws in the win at Manhattan on Jan. 19 for its most in eight seasons.
~ The Purple Eagles received 11 votes in this week’s CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 for their most all season.

How To Tune In
Friday’s game will be broadcast on Time Warner Cable SportsChannel: Albany 50 or 1803, New York City 197, Hudson Valley 413 or 461, Central?New York 813, Western NY Buffalo 87.

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.

Twice As Nice
Freshman forward T.J. Cline was named MAAC Rookie of the Week for the second time this season on Jan. 21. Cline averaged 12 points per game and 5.0 rebounds per game in a weekend sweep of Siena and Manhattan. The 6-foot-8 forward from Plano, Texas shot 77.8 percent (7-for-9) from the field, 66.7 percent (4-for-6) from the behind the arc and 75 percent (6-for-8) at the free-throw line in the two games.

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’ 7-1 record is tied for their best start ever and is the first time they are 7-1 through eight games since the 1998-99 season

Home Cooking
NU is off to its best start at home since the 2004-05 season. NU is 8-1 through its first eight 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 19 games this season and in 26 straight games dating back to last season. Mason’s streak to open the season surpassed backcourt teammate Juan’ya Green start to last season, when he scored in double figures in the first 18 games. Mason’s 26 straight games streak is the longest since Charron Fisher completed the feat 53 straight times from 2006-08 (all 29 games in 2007-08). 

Conference Win Streaks Around The Nation
NU’s seven-game conference win streak is tied for 11th longest in the nation with Louisiana Tech. Montana leads the nation in regular season conference wins with 19 dating back to last season.

On The Court
Siena Saints (4-15, 2-6 MAAC)
Siena has dropped 13 of its last 15 games, including an 87-64 decision to Niagara on Jan. 25. O.D. Anosike is third in the nation in rebounds per game with 11. 6 per contests.

Against the Saints (Niagara, 45-43)
Niagara has won four of the last six meetings to regain in the all-time series. The Purple Eagles and Saints have split the season series in the last two seasons. On Jan. 17., NU recorded its largest win against Siena in the series as MAAC opponents (87-64) for its fifth straight win against Siena at the Gallagher Center. The Purple Eagles haven’t won in Siena since Jan. 27, 2005.

Last Meeting - January 17, 2013
NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. - A season-best shooting performance propelled the Niagara men’s basketball team to a convincing 87-64 win over the Siena Saints on Thursday at the Gallagher Center.

Road Tough
Three of Niagara’s seven 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).

Free (Throws) Falling
Niagara drained 38 free throws in the 64-60 win over Manhattan on Jan. 19. Antoine Mason and Ameen Tanksley each set career-bests with 13 and nine, respectively. The 38 free throws were the most since making 40 against Canisius on Feb. 16, 2005. They are the most in the MAAC since Manhattan made 38 versus Loyola on March 5, 2010.

Efficiency Rating
Niagara ranks in the top 35 nationally in two statistical categories, according to KenPom.com. The Purple Eagles are 26th in the nation in turnover percentage and 31st in steals percentage. The numbers represent the percentage of NU possessions in which those things have occurred. NU only has the ball stolen 8.1 percent and NU has a 17.3 percent in turnover percentage.
NU is rated first in the MAAC in offense efficiency (111.0), in offensive (16.1) and defensive (25.4) turnover percentage (14.9) and defensive (14.6) steal percentage and second in two-point percentage (50.7), offensive steal percentage (8.6) and free throw percentage (71.6) conference games only.