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Early First Place Battle
The Niagara Purple Eagles will entertain the Fairfield Stags in an early season first place matchup on Saturday at 3 p.m.
Niagara (6-7, 2-1 MAAC) opened its conference home schedule with a rout of Marist on Thursday for its third win in the last four games. The Purple Eagles registered season-highs in points, first half points and field goal percentage en route to their first 20-point win in three seasons.
Saturday’s matchup features two teams sitting at the top of the conference, as well as two of the last three MAAC Rookie of the Years (Juan’ya Green and Derek Needham). Fairfield (10-5, 2-1 MAAC) enters the game with the conference’s longest win streak at six games. NU has dropped the last six meetings with the Stags, including two narrow defeats last season.
Tipoff Tidbits
~ NU’s 5-1 home record through six games is its best start since the 2007-08 season (5-1)
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Antoine Mason is the third leading scorer in the MAAC and is 37th in the nation with 18.8 points per game. Mason is on pace for career-highs in points, field goal percentage and 3-point percentage.
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Ameen Tanksley recorded his sixth career (third of the season) double-double in the win against Marist. Tanksley notched double-doubles in the two meetings with Fairfield last season.
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Juan'ya Green set the freshman scoring record with a career-high 35 points against Fairfield on Dec. 2, 2011.
~ NU is rated first in the conference in offense efficiency, field goal percentage, turnover percentage and two-point percentage in conference games only according to KenPom.com.
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
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.
Season-Highs Pace NU Past Marist
Niagara had season-highs in points (94), first half points (51) and in field goal percentage (52.2) in the win over Marist on Jan. 3. The 94 points were the most in a regular season non-overtime game in four seasons. The 51 first half points were the most since NU scored 52 points against UMBC last season. The field goal percentage was the highest since shooting 53.2 percent against Canisius on Feb. 16, 2011.
Green Named To Cousy Watch List
Sophomore Juan’ya Green has been named to the 2013 Bob Cousy Collegiate Point Guard of the Year watch list announced on Dec. 20 by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The annual honor, named for Hall of Famer and former Boston Celtic Bob Cousy, recognizes the top point guards in men’s college basketball. Over 80 candidates have been nominated for the 2013 Bob Cousy Award. This watch list of candidates will be narrowed down to a final 20 on Jan. 1, the final 10 on Feb. 1, and the final five by approximately March 1.
There’s Something About Marist
The Purple Eagles won their sixth straight home game against the Marist Red Foxes on Jan. 3. Two Purple Eagles scored at least 20 points in the win in Ameen Tanksley (22) and Juan’ya Green (21). The most recent time that feat occurred was also against Marist on Feb. 26, 2012 when Green scored 30 points and Antoine Mason finished with 20.
On The Court
Fairfield Stags (10-5, 2-1 MAAC)
Fairfield is on a six-game winning streak heading into Saturday’s game. The Stags defense has been the key to their success this season; Fairfield leads the conference in scoring defense at 60.5 points per game. Preseason All-MAAC First Team selection Derek Needham leads the team in scoring with 14.3 per contest.
Against the Stags (Niagara, 35-26)
Niagara leads the series with Fairfield, 35-26, in a series which began during the 1965-66 season. Fairfield has won the last six meetings after NU won the previous three encounters. NU’s six-game losing streak is its longest in series history.
Last Meeting - February 3, 2012
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – The Niagara men’s basketball team was unable to hold off a second half surge by the Fairfield Stags, falling 77-69 on Friday at the Webster Bank Arena.
MAAC Home Openers
Niagara improved to 11-4 in MAAC home openers during the Joe Mihalich era. The Purple Eagles picked up their first home conference opening win since the 2009-10 season.
Efficiency Rating
Niagara ranks in the top 50 nationally in two statistical categories, according to KenPom.com. The Purple Eagles are 35th in the nation in turnover percentage and 28th in steals percentage. The numbers represent the percentage of NU possessions in which those things have occurred. NU only has the ball stolen 7.8 percent and NU has a 17.5 percent in turnover percentage.
NU is rated first in the conference in offense efficiency (107.2), field goal percentage (51.6), turnover percentage (16.6) and two-point percentage (53.6) in conference games only.
