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Mid-Week Ivy Stop
The Niagara Purple Eagles will start a three-game road swing beginning with a non-conference matchup against the Brown Bears on Tuesday at 7 p.m.

Niagara (7-7) has won four its last five games heading into the road trip. The Purple Eagles went 2-0 in their home conference opening weekend as they routed Marist and battled past Fairfield for their first win in seven meetings. The Purple Eagles had season-highs in points and field goal percentage against Marist, and made a season-high 27 free throws while forcing 21 turnovers versus Fairfield. Niagara is now 7-7 overall and is in a tie for first place in the MAAC with a 3-1 mark.

NU now faces Brown (4-8) for its last non-conference game in the regular season until its ESPN BracketBusters in late February. The Purple Eagles and Bears have split the two previous meetings with Brown winning the last meeting in Dec. 1995.

Tipoff Tidbits
~ Juan'ya Green was named MAAC Player of the Week for the first time in his career on Jan. 7. Green averaged 26 points per game, shot 65.5 percent from the field and 92.3 percent from the free-throw line.
~ NU’s 6-1 home record through seven games is its best start since the 2007-08 season (6-1)
~ Antoine Mason is the second leading scorer in the MAAC and is 43rd in the nation with 18.3 points per game. He has scored in double figures in 21 straight games.
~ The Purple Eagles had consecutive games of 20-plus forced turnovers to propel them to first in the conference in turnover margin (3.57).
~ Niagara is 28-30 all-time against Ivy League oppositions.
~ Niagara continues conference play this weekend at Saint Peter’s and Fairfield.

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.

Home Cooking
Niagara is off to its best start at home since the 2007-08 (6-1). The Purple Eagles are 6-1 through their first seven games and have eight more home contests remaining, including an ESPN BracketBuster.

Double Figures Scoring
Antoine Mason has scored in double figures through the first 14 games this season and in 21 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 21 straight games streak is the longest since Charron Fisher completed the feat 53 straight times from 2006-08 (all 29 games in 2007-08). 

Turning Them Over
The Purple Eagles had consecutive games forcing 20-plus turnovers in wins over Marist (20) and Fairfield (21). NU’s season-high in forced turnovers is 24 which came in the comeback win against New Mexico State on Nov. 18.

On The Court
Brown Bears (4-8, 0-0 Ivy League)
Brown enters Tuesday’s night game on a two-game skid and has lost five of its last six games. Four Bears are averaging double figures, led by Matt Sullivan (14.3 ppg). Rafeal Maia leads the team with 8.8 rebounds per game and Sean McGonagill leads the team with 4.3 assists per game.

Against the Bears (Tied, 1-1)
Niagara is 1-1 all-time against Brown. The Purple Eagles won the first meeting on Dec. 27, 1975 (77-59) and dropped the most recent meeting on Dec. 1, 1995.

Last Meeting - December 1, 1995
Brown 56, Niagara 54

Against Ivy League
Niagara is 28-30 all-time against the Ivy League. The Purple Eagles have played every team except Harvard. NU has played Cornell the most (47) as the two were ECAC rivals.