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MAAC-achusetts
The No. 1 seed Niagara Purple Eagles begin their quest for a third MAAC Tournament title on Saturday when they face ninth-seeded Siena in the 2013 MAAC Tournament Quarterfinals at 2:30 p.m. on ESPN3 from the MassMutual Center.

Niagara (18-12) secured the 2012-13 MAAC Regular-Season Title with a 78-61 win over Saint Peter’s in its regular season finale on March 2 to earn its first regular-season crown since the 2004-05 season. That season’s squad went on to win the conference tournament and earned the program’s first trip to the NCAA Tournament in 30 years.

The Purple Eagles, who are the youngest team in the MAAC, went 13-5 in conference play which tied for their second most MAAC wins in program history and went 7-2 in MAAC road games which tied a program-best for MAAC road wins.

The sophomore trio of Juan’ya Green (17 ppg), Antoine Mason (18.3 ppg) and Ameen Tanksley (11.1) has carried the load for Niagara, while receiving solid contributions from Devon White (5.4 rpg), Marvin Jordan (8.3 ppg) and T.J. Cline (7.7 pgg).

Tipoff Tidbits
~ NU is 21-21 with two titles in 23 appearances at the MAAC Championship. Joe Mihalich is 17-12 in the MAAC Tournament and led NU to the 2005 and 2007 crown.
~ Joe Mihalich was named MAAC Coach of the Year for the third time in his career.
~ Juan’ya Green and Antoine Mason are the first sophomore duo named to the All-MAAC First Team in league history
~ T.J. Cline was selected to the MAAC All-Rookie. Cline averaged 7.7 ppg and 4.6 rpg.
~ Green has been named a finalist for the Lou Henson National Mid-Major Player of the Year Award. He is one of 25 finalists, three from the MAAC and two sophomores.
~ Niagara is 12-8 all-time and is 9-3 under Joe Mihalich in the MAAC Quarterfinals. ? The Purple Eagles are 2-4 against the Saints in the MAAC Tournament.

How To Tune In
Saturday’s game will be aired on ESPN3/WatchESPN. 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.

Strong Closing To The Regular Season
Niagara enters the “second season” winners of four of its last five games, which includes winning their regular season finale to wrap up the regular-season title. NU improved to 13-2 in home regular season finales under Joe Mihalich.

MAAC Regular Season Champs
NU claimed the 2012-13 MAAC regular-season title with a 13-5 conference record. The Purple Eagles have shared the regular season on three other occasions (1999, 2001, 2005), but this is the first season NU has won it outright. The regular season crown guarantees the Purple Eagles at least a bid to the National Invitational Tournament (NIT).

No. 1 Target
Since the MAAC has gone to the 10-team tournament format to decide its automatic bid in 1998, eight times the No.1 seed has cut down the nets. The only other time Niagara has been the No. 1seed in the tournament was in 2005. NU received two byes and defeated Iona in the semifinals and Rider in the final to win the championship.

Niagara At The MAAC Tourney
Niagara is 21-21 in 23 appearances at the MAAC Tournament since its first appearance in 1990. The Purple Eagles won the 2005 edition in Buffalo, N.Y. and topped Siena in the 2007 final.

Joe Mihalich is 17-12 at the MAAC Tournament and the two tournament championships has come with him at the helm. Mihalich is 9-3 in the quarterfinal round.

Mihalich Named MAAC Coach Of The Year
Joe Mihalich was named the 2013 The Rock MAAC Coach of the Year announced on March 7 during the MAAC Basketball Awards Show at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

Mihalich, who is the all-time winningest head coach in MAAC history, added another accolade to his illustrious career as head coach of the Purple Eagles. The “Dean of MAAC Coaches” navigated the youngest team in the conference and 40th youngest in the nation to its first regular season title since the 2004-05 season. Mihalich’s Purple Eagles have guaranteed themselves a trip to a postseason tournament (NIT or NCAA) for the fifth time during his 15-year tenure.

Mihalich is only the second coach in league history to win the award three times, joining Saint Peter’s Ted Fiore (1987, 89, 91).

Green, Mason, Cline Named To All-MAAC Teams
Sophomores Juan’ya Green and Antoine Mason were named to the 2012-13 All-MAAC First Team, while freshman T.J. Cline was selected to the MAAC All-Rookie Team

Green and Mason are only the second duo in program history to earn first team honors, joining Bilal Benn and Tyrone Lewis (2008-09). The duo is the first set of sophomores to be named to the All-MAAC First Team in league history.
Green, who ranks tied for fourth in the nation in minutes logged, is the only player in the MAAC to rank in the top five in scoring (17.0 ppg, third), assists (5.0 apg, second), steals (1.9 spg, third) and assist/turnover ratio (1.8, second). Green has set new career season-highs in points, assists, rebounds, field goal percentage and free throw percentage this season. Green is a two-time MAAC Player of the Week recipient and is a finalist for the 2013 Lou Henson National Mid-Major Player of the Year award.

Mason is second in the conference in scoring at 18.3 points per game. Mason, who was named to the MAAC All-Rookie Team last season, joined backcourt teammate Green as the third sophomore in program history to reach 1,000 points on Feb. 23. The duo is the only sophomore pair to enter the 1,000-point club in MAAC history. Mason has scored in double figures in 25 out of 26 games this season, including 24 straight games this season and 31 dating back to last season.
His streak ended on Feb. 28 and was the sixth longest in the nation. Mason set new career-highs in points (30) and field goals (13) in the overtime win over Iona on Jan. 31.

Cline has seen action in all 30 games this season. The three-time MAAC Rookie of the Week honoree is averaging 7.7 points per game and 4.6 rebounds per game. Cline is shooting 48 percent (85-for-177) from the field and 35 percent (36-103) from behind the arc. Cline set career-high in points (15) and field goals made (six) against St. Francis (Pa.), grabbed a career-best 11 boards at Central Michigan and played in a career-high 29 minutes at Notre Dame. Cline’s three rookie of the week honors are the most ever by a Purple Eagle.

Green Named Finalist For Henson Award
Juan’ya Green is one of 25 finalists for the 2013 Lou Henson National Mid-Major Player of the Year award announced on Monday, Feb. 25 by CollegeInsider.com.

The Lou Henson Award is presented annually to the top Mid-Major player in Division I college basketball. The award is named in honor of Lou Henson who retired in 2005 after a spectacular coaching career that lasted 41 years. The Lou Henson award is one of 16 prestigious awards presented annually. The winner of the award will be announced on April 2 at halftime of the 2013 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament championship game.

Vote Green For Henson Player of The Year!
For the second straight year CollegeInsider.com is working with Point3 Basketball to promote the Lou Henson award “fan vote,” which will constitute 33% of the final vote. Visit VoteLouHenson.com to cast your vote for Green. Voting ends at midnight on Sunday, March 17.

This Is 300
Juan’ya Green is two assists away from 300 in his career. Green would join all-time assist leader Anthony Nelson (’11) as the only Purple Eagle to reach 300 assists in their first two seasons.

Double-Digit Conference Wins
Niagara finished its conference schedule with double-digit wins (13) for the first time since the 2008-09 season (14).

Last Exit To Springfield
For the second straight season, Springfield, Mass. will be the site of the MAAC men’s and women’s basketball championships. The men’s portion begins on March 8 and will run through championship Monday on March 11.

On The Court
No. 9 Siena Saints (8-23, 4-13 MAAC)
The No. 9 seed Siena Saints edged past eight-seeded Marist in the first round to advance to the quarterfinals. The Saints have four players averaging in double figures, led by O.D. Anosike who averages a double-double. 

Against the Saints (Niagara, 46-43)
Niagara has won five of the last seven meetings. 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. Niagara picked up a 78-69 win on Jan. 25 for its first win at Siena since Jan. 27, 2005.

Last Meeting - January 25, 2013
Niagara 78, Siena 69

ALBANY, N.Y. – The Niagara men’s basketball team picked up its first win at Siena in nine attempts with a 78-69 win on Friday night to remain in first place in the MAAC.

The trio of Juan’ya Green, Antoine Mason and Ameen Tanksley all scored in double figures. Green recorded his first-ever double-double with a team-high 19 points and tied a career-best 11 assists.

NU outscored the Saints in the paint (38-20), scored 20 points off of 12 turnovers and had 18 assists while tying a season-low three turnovers.

Vs. Siena In The MAAC Tourney
Niagara has played Siena six times in the MAAC Tournament and has won two of those meetings. NU won its only meeting in the quarterfinals and its other win came in the 2007 MAAC Championship Game.

2009 Final - 1)Siena 77, 2)Niagara 70
2007 Final - 2)Niagara 83, 4)Siena 79
2004 Semis - 2)Niagara 79, 6)Siena 74
2002 Final - 7)Siena 92, 4)Niagara 77
2000 Semis - 1)Siena 90, 5)Niagara 88
1992 Quarters - 3)Siena 83, 6)Niagara 57

Not A Bad Day On The Job
Juan’ya Green played arguably his best all-around game as a Purple Eagle in the win at Siena on Jan. 25. Green notched his first career double-double with 19 points while tying a career-best 11 assists and had one turnover in 40 minutes, but his career-high nine rebounds left him one board shy of the program’s second ever triple-double. Green also tied a career-high with two blocks.

Historic Duo
Juan’ya Green and Antoine Mason are the only sophomore duo to reach 1,000 points in the same season in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference history. Only Canisius (Ray Hall, 1981-83), Fairfield (Derek Needham, 2009-11) and Rider (Charles Smith, 1993-95) has had one sophomore reach 1,000 points.

Dynamic Duo Scoring Leaders
Antoine Mason (18.3) and Juan’ya Green (17.0) are the sixth highest scoring duo in the nation at 35.3 points per game. The duo is the youngest pair on the top list. Iona’s Lamont Jones and Sean Armand are first at 40.0 ppg.