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First Place Purps
The Niagara Purple Eagles, who are 9-2 at home this season, will host archrival Canisius on Sunday at 2 p.m. The game will air live on Time Warner Cable SportsChannel.

NU (14-10, 10-3 MAAC) is still in first place in the MAAC with a 10-3 record despite dropping two straight narrow games; a buzzer-beating layup in double overtime to Loyola and on the road versus Rider without the second leading scorer in the conference, Antoine Mason.

Niagara rallied from a 10-point second half deficit and a 3-pointer by Marvin Jordan in the final seconds propelled the Purple Eagles to a 66-65 win in the first meeting with Canisius (15-8, 8-5 MAAC) on Jan. 27. The Purple Eagles are 18-3 in the last 21 meetings with the Golden Griffins and has won the last nine meetings at home, including escaping in overtime in last season’s encounter at the Gallagher Center.

Tipoff Tidbits
~ Antoine Mason is second in the conference and 30th in the nation in scoring with 18.9 points per game. He has scored in double figures in 30 straight games, which is the second longest active streak in the nation.
~ Three-point specialist Marvin Jordan needs two more triples for 200 in his career and six more to tie David Brooks for fifth place. Jordan scored a season-high 23 points in the win at Canisius this season.
~ Ameen Tanksley set a career-high in points with a game-high 29 in the setback to Rider on Feb. 7.
~ Juan'ya Green ranks in the top 10 in the MAAC in scoring (fifth), assists (second), free throw percentage (ninth), steals (third), assists/turnover ratio (third) and minutes per game (second ).
~ Antoine Mason (18.9) and Juan’ya Green (16.3) are the sixth highest scoring duo in the nation at 35.2 points per game.

How To Tune In
Sunday’s game will be televised live 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 WGR 550 AM. Internet listeners can listen free online through Purple Eagles All-Access.

MAAC Start Sets Program Record
Niagara is off to its best start in conference play in its 24-year history as a MAAC member. The Purple Eagles’ 10-1 start was their ever, breaking the record set during the 1998-99 season.

Home Cooking
NU is off to its best starts at home since the 2004-05 season. NU is 9-2 through its first 11 games which is tied for its third best start under Joe Mihalich.

Double Figures Scoring
Antoine Mason has scored in double figures in 23 straight games this season and in 30 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 30 straight games streak is the longest by a Purple Eagle since Charron Fisher completed the feat 53 straight times from 2006-08 (all 29 games in 2007-08). 

Mason’s double figures streak is the second longest active streak in the nation behind South Dakota State’s Nate Wolters (62).

Dynamic Duo Scoring Leaders
Antoine Mason (18.9) and Juan’ya Green (16.3) are the sixth highest scoring duo in the nation at 35.2 points per game. The duo is the youngest pair on the top list. Iona’s Lamont Jones and Sean Armand are first at 40.3 ppg.

On The Court
Canisius Golden Griffins (15-8, 8-5 MAAC)
Canisius is 2-1 since losing to Niagara on Jan. 27, picking up wins versus Loyola and Iona. Billy Baron leads Canisius at 16.3 ppg and has a conference-high 5.5 apg. The Golden Griffins are in a tie for third place in the standings.

Against the Golden Griffins (Niagara leads 100-73)
The 173 previous meetings are the most against a single opponent in both schools’ history. Niagara has dominated the series with its archrivals, including winning 18 of the last 21 meetings and nine straight at the Gallagher Center.

Last Meeting - January 27, 2013
Niagara 66, Canisius 65

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Marvin Jordan’s 3-pointer with four seconds remaining was the game-winning basket as Niagara edged archrival Canisius, 66-65, in a thrilling Little 3 contest on Sunday.

Battle of the Bridge
The Battle of the Bridge, the all-sports competition between cross-town rivals Niagara University and Canisius College, enters its seventh season in 2012-13. After Niagara claimed the inaugural competition, Canisius won the series the next two years, before Niagara claimed the Canal Cup at the end of the 2009-10 season. With the series tied 2-2, Canisius edged Niagara for the 2010-11 & 2011-12 title.

Points are awarded to the winner of regular-season contests, except for cross country, golf and swimming and diving, which will be determined by MAAC Championship standings. The Canal Cup will be awarded to the victor each year.
The name of the series is in reference to the Grand Island Bridge, which each team crosses when traveling to the other’s campus. The name of the trophy is in reference to the Erie Canal, which intersects Niagara County, where Niagara is located, and Erie County, where Canisius is located.

Niagara is currently leading this season’s series, 10-6, and needs 17 points to win the cup. The winner of the basketball game will receive two points.

February Fever
Niagara is 34-15 since the 2006-07 season, including a splendid 21-4 mark at the Gallagher Center. NU opened February with a double overtime setback at home against Loyola on Feb. 2 and will play seven more games in the month including a home BracketBusters game against Northwestern State. Niagara has five straight seasons with a winning record during this month.

Little 3 Love
The Purple Eagles have dominated the Little 3 in recent seasons, owning a 26-5 record in the last 31 games against Canisius and St. Bonaventure. Niagara is 18-3 versus the Golden Griffins since Feb. 12, 2003 and 8-2 against St. Bonaventure.