Game Notes | Live Video | Live Audio | Live Stats | Buy Tickets

The Niagara Purple Eagles continue their home conference weekend with a contest against the Rider Broncs on Sunday at 2 p.m.

This will be the second meeting between Niagara and Rider in the last 10 days when the teams played in another nail-biter which has become a recent staple in the series. The Purple Eagles nearly erased a 10-point deficit with three minutes remaining before falling to the Broncs, 85-83. For the seventh time in the last 11 meetings, the final margin between the programs was less than four points.

Niagara, which is in a midst of a three-game losing streak, will look to snap a three-game skid to Rider.

Tipoff Tidbits
• Antoine Mason was named College Hoops Daily's MAAC Player of the 2013 Non-Conference Year.
• Niagara had 15 steals against Monmouth to record at least 15 steals in a game for the third time this season, which is the most since the 2008-09 season (five times).
• Cameron Fowler and Rayvon Harris each recorded career-bests on Friday against Monmouth. Fowler had a career-high four steals to lead the game and Harris made a career-best eight free throws.
• Ramone Snowden set career-highs in points (23), field goals (nine), 3-pointers (four) and steals (three) at Iona on Jan. 4. Snowden scored all 23 points in the second half and led the game with three steals.
• Niagara leads the MAAC with 130 steals and a 2.06 turnover margin.

How to Tune In
• Fans can listen live to all the action from "The Voice of the Purple Eagles" Todd Callen on ESPN 1520 AM and free online through Purple Eagles All-Access.

Top Gun
•  Antoine Mason is LEADING the nation in scoring at 28.4 points per game.
• Mason LEADS the nation in field goals attempts (304), free throws made (154), free throw attempts (201) and is SECOND in field goals made (138).
• Mason accounts for 36 percent of Niagara points which LEADS the country.
• He holds the highest scoring game in the MAAC this season (career-high 39 vs. Brown).
• He LEADS the nation in fouls drawn per 40 minutes (9.1).

Scoring Machine
•  Antoine Mason has 20 straight games in double figures.
• His career-high 39 points versus Brown are tied for the 11th most in NCAA Division I this season.
Mason has nine 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 15 of 16 games this season.
•  Mason has scored at least 20 points in a half eight 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 54 points away from moving ahead of Al Butler ('71) for 11th all-time.  

Mason Named College Hoop Daily's MAAC POY of the Non-Conference Season
• Antoine Mason was one of five players named to the CHD's All-MAAC Non-Conference team and was tabbed as player of the non-conference season.
• Mason averaged 29.5 points per game while shooting 44 percent from the field and 77 percent from the free-throw line, and averaged 4.2 rebounds per game in 11 non-conference games.
• Mason was also named CHD's MAAC November Player of the Year.

Scaffdi Bobblehead Day
• Niagara University will recognize NU Hall of Famer Phil Scaffidi with a bobblehead day on Jan. 12. The first 1,200 fans in attendance will receive a Scaffidi bobblehead.
• Scaffidi played at Niagara from 1975-80 and has his No. 3 jersey retired.
• Scaffidi missed time during the 1978-79 season when he was diagnosed with cancer. He returned for six games during the 1979-80 season and set then-Niagara all-time assist record.
• The U.S. Basketball Writers Association honored with the 1979-80 Most Courageous Award. He passed on March 23, 1980, ending a 15-month fight against cancer.

On The Court
Rider Broncs (7-7, 3-2 MAAC)
• Rider has lost its last two games (Siena & Canisius) since defeating Niagara on Jan. 2.
• The Broncs are eighth in the nation in 3-point percentage (42.2).
•  Four Broncs are averaging in double figures, led by Anthony Miles (19.1 ppg). Zedric Sadler leads the MAAC in assist/turnover ratio (2.9).
•  Rider leads the nation in 3-point field percentage (44.2) and has four players shooting over 43 percent.

Against the Broncs (Niagara leads, 20-18)
• The Purple Eagles lead the all-time series, 20-18, but have lost eight of the last nine meetings including the first meeting this season (Jan. 2).
• Seven of the last 11 games have been decided by less than four points.

Last Meeting - January 2, 2014
Niagara 85, Rider 83

LAWRENCEVILLE , N.J. – The Niagara Purple Eagles nearly erased a 10-point deficit with three minutes remaining before falling to the Rider Broncs, 85-83, on Thursday.