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The Niagara Purple Eagles, winners of three of their last four games, resume MAAC play with a road contest at the Rider Broncs on Thursday at 6 p.m.

Niagara (4-9, 1-1 MAAC) closed out its non-conference schedule with a 68-65 win over Brown last Sunday.  Antoine Mason's career-high 39 points, including a floater with 20 seconds left to put Niagara up 68-63, are the most by a Purple Eagle in seven seasons. The Purple Eagles forced a season-high 25 turnovers, the most since Nov. 2011, and their 16 steals tied a season-high. NU also shot a season-best 81.5 percent (22-for-27) from the free-throw line.

The Purple Eagles resume conference action with a 1-1 record after a defeat to Siena and a victory over Saint Peter's in early December at the Gallagher Center. Niagara, which was swept by Rider (6-5, 2-0 MAAC) last season, leads the all-time series 20-17. The series has been tightly contested in recent seasons with six of the last 10 meetings having been decided by four points or less.
 
Tipoff Tidbits
• Antoine Mason was named MAAC Co-Player of the Week on Monday. Mason earned the weekly honor for the first time in his career on Nov. 18.
• NU went 7-2 in MAAC road games last season which tied the 2000-01 team for the best MAAC road record in program history.
• Marvin Jordan is averaging 12.1 points per game, including a season-high 20 points against St. Bonaventure, in his last seven games. Jordan's season-and game-high five triples against Bonaventure were most by a Purple Eagle since Jordan made five against Oregon State in the season opener last season.

How to Tune In
• Fans can listen live to all the action from "The Voice of the Purple Eagles" Todd Callen on ESPN1520 AM and free online through Purple Eagles All-Access.
 
Top Gun
•  Antoine Mason is LEADING the nation in scoring at 29.1 points per game.
• Mason LEADS the nation in field goals attempts (253), free throws made (130), free throw attempts (170) and is SECOND in field goals made (114).
•  Mason accounts for 38 percent of Niagara points which LEADS the country.
•  He holds the three highest scoring games (career-high 39 vs. Brown, 35 vs. Western Carolina & Saint Peter's) in the MAAC this season.
•  His 29.1 points per game has him on pace to finish in the top-4 in Niagara's single-season scoring average.
 
Scoring Machine
•  Antoine Mason has 17 straight games in double figures.
•  His career-high 39 points versus Brown are tied for the 10th most in NCAA Division I this season.
Mason has eight 30-point games this season, including a stretch of five straight (Nov. 21-30).
•  Mason scored at least 20 points in 11 straight games dating back to last season (snapped on Dec. 6) and has scored at least 20 points in 12 of 13 games this season.
•  Mason has scored at least 20 points in a half seven times this season, including six times in the second half (five straight from Nov. 21-30).

Mason Quickly Moving Up NU All-Time Scoring List
•  Antoine Mason entered the top-20 all-time scorers list at Niagara on Nov. 30.
•  Mason, who started the season 38th on the list, is currently 12th and is 131 points away from moving ahead of Al Butler ('71) for 11th all-time.  
 
Mason Shares MAAC Player of the Week Honors
•  Antoine Mason collected his second career MAAC Player of the Week award when he was named co-player of the week on Dec. 30.
•  Mason scored a career-high 39 points as the Niagara Purple Eagles defeated the Brown Bears, 68-65, on Dec. 29.
•  His 39 points are the most points by a Purple Eagle since Feb. 2008 (Charron Fisher, 41 points). His 39 points are tied for the 10th most by a Division I player this season.
•  Mason, who scored 22 points in the first half, made a floater in the paint with 20 seconds left to give Niagara a 68-63 lead.
•  Mason also set a career-high in steals with six as Niagara forced 16 steals en route to a season-high 25 turnovers forced.
•  Mason finished shooting 11-for-25 from the field, 3-for-5 from behind the arc and 14-for-17 from the free-throw line in 36 minutes.
 
Getting Buckets
•  Antoine Mason's career-high 39 points against Brown on Dec. 29 are the most by a Purple Eagle since Feb. 2008.
•  Mason's 39 points are tied for 10th most in the nation this season.
 
Niagara Single-Game Scoring Leaders (Since 2004-05)
Points    Name                     Opponent              Date      
45........... Charron Fisher...... at Loyola................ 2/10/08
41........... Charron Fisher...... vs. Iona................. 2/16/08
39........... Antoine Mason... vs. Brown............. 12/29/13
39........... Juan Mendez......... vs. Canisius........... 2/16/05
36........... Charron Fisher...... vs. Rider................ 12/6/07
 
Back On The Road
•  Niagara will play its first road game since losing at Arkansas State on Dec. 2 to complete a six-game road trip.
•  All five December games were played in Western New York (4 at home, 1 neutral site game in Buffalo)
•  Niagara is 0-5 in true road games this season.
 
Second Half Team
•  The Purple Eagles have surged in the second half this season, including second half comeback wins over Saint Peter's and Davidson.
•  NU holds a +1.4 scoring margin in the second half.
•  The Purple Eagles are outshooting teams in 3-pointers (33 to 28), field goals (177 to 174) and free throws (179 to 172).
•  NU also has a +3.2 turnover margin and a 66-34 advantage in steals. 
 
Stealing Victories
•  Niagara accumulated 16 steals in its comeback win against Saint Peter's on Dec. 8 and in the win over Brown on Dec. 29
•  The 16 steals are the most since getting 17 against Norfolk State on Dec. 29, 2009 and are tied for the most by a MAAC team this season.
•  Antoine Mason set a career-high with six versus Brown and Rayvon Harris set personal-bests with three steals vs. Saint Peter's and Brown.
•  The Purple Eagles forced a then-season-high 21 turnovers against Saint Peter's which led to a 22-5 points off turnover advantage and allowed a season-low in points (56).
 
Getting Defensive
•  Niagara is 4-0 this season when holding opponents to under 40 percent from the field. The Purple Eagles have held three of their last four opponents to under 40 percent shooting.
•  Niagara caused 25 turnovers in the win over Brown which are the most since forcing 26 turnovers vs. Central Connecticut on Nov. 14, 2011.
•  The Purple Eagles lead the MAAC with 99 steals and with a 2.3 turnover margin.
 
On The Court
Rider Broncs (6-4, 2-0 MAAC)
•  Rider is 6-4 on the season and has won four of its last five games.
•  The Broncs are 2-0 in the MAAC after defeating Monmouth and Quinnipiac in December.
• Rider leads the MAAC in scoring, averaging 80.4 points per contest.
•  Five Broncs are averaging in double figures, led by Anthony Miles (18.7 ppg). Zedric Sadler leads the MAAC in assist/turnover ratio (2.7).
•  Rider leads the nation in 3-point field percentage (44.2) and has four players shooting over 43 percent.
 
Against The Broncs (Niagara leads, 20-17)
• The Purple Eagles lead the all-time series, 20-17, but have lost seven of the last eight meetings including both games last season.
•  Six of the last 10 games have been decided by less than four points.
•  Niagara has lost the last six trips to Rider.
 
Last Meeting - February 28, 2013
Rider 68, Niagara 59
 
NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – Juan'ya Green's game-high 27 points were not enough to lead the Niagara Purple Eagles over the hump as they dropped a 68-59 decision to Rider on Thursday to snap their three-game winning streak.
 
The Series.......................................................................................................... Niagara leads 20-17
Last Game............................................................................................................ February 28, 2013
.......................................................................................................................... Rider 68, Niagara 59 
Last Niagara win.................................................................................................. February 11, 2012
.......................................................................................................................... Rider 82, Niagara 84
Last Rider win...................................................................................................... February 28, 2013
.......................................................................................................................... Rider 68, Niagara 59
Last Niagara win at Rider....................................................................................... January 14, 2007
.......................................................................................................................... Niagara 80, Rider 79
Last Rider win at Home........................................................................................ February 7, 2013
.......................................................................................................................... Niagara 69, Rider 72
Current streak................................................................................................................... Rider, W2
Coach Casey vs. Rider................................................................................................. First Meeting