Game Notes | Live Video | Live Audio | Live Stats

The Niagara Purple Eagles continue their road swing in the "Nutmeg State" on Saturday when they take on the Quinnipiac Bobcats at 4 p.m.

Niagara snapped its four-game losing streak by edging Fairfield, 67-63, in the MAAC National Game of the Week on Thursday. Freshman Ramone Snowden netted a game-high 18 points, including the go-ahead basket with 26 seconds remaining. Antoine Mason, the nation's leading scorer, added 15 points with 13 coming in the second half.

The Purple Eagles, who also picked up their first road win of the season on Thursday, will face the Quinnipiac Bobcats for the first time as MAAC opponents.  Niagara and Quinnipiac have met twice previously (Dec. 2010 and Dec. 2011), with the Bobcats winning both contests.
 
Tipoff Tidbits
• Marvin Jordan averaged 13.5 ppg in the two all-time meetings against Quinnipiac.
• Antoine Mason was named College Hoops Daily's MAAC Player of the 2013 Non-Conference Year.
• Tahjere McCall scored a career-high 23 points on a career-best seven field goals and eight free throws against Rider on Jan. 12.
• NU is THIRD in the nation in free throws made (393) and FOURTH in the nation in free throw attempts (563).
• 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 is second in the MAAC with 144 steals and in turnover margin (+2.28).
 
Top Gun
•    Antoine Mason is LEADING the nation in scoring at 27.6 points per game.
•    Mason LEADS the nation in field goals made (151), field goals attempts (337), free throws made (166) and free throw attempts (216).
•    Mason accounts for 35 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 (8.8).
 
Scoring Machine
•    Antoine Mason has 22 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 16 of 18 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 13 points away from moving ahead of Al Butler ('71) for 11th all-time.  
 
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 +0.6 scoring margin in the second half.
•  The Purple Eagles are outshooting teams in 3-pointers (49 to 47) and field goals (253 to 237).
•  NU also has a +2.9 turnover margin and a 90-45 advantage in steals. 
 
The "Taj Mahal"
•  Tahjere McCall scored a career-high 23 points against the Rider Broncs on Jan. 12.
•  McCall set career-marks with seven field goals (7-for-10) and eight free throws (8-for-10).
•  McCall had a game-high three assists and shared team-highs with two steals and one block. He also grabbed five rebounds.
 
On The Court
Quinnipiac Bobcats (10-6, 5-2 MAAC)
•  The Bobcats have won four of their last five games heading into Saturday's afternoon game.
•  Four players are averaging double figures scoring: Ike Azotam (16.4), Zaid Hearst (13.6), Umar Shannon (13.2), Ousmane Drame (12.5).
•  Azotam is third in the nation in double-doubles (10) and is third in the nation in rebounds per game (11.7).
•  Quinnipiac leads the nation in rebounding margin (13.1) and 10th in total rebounds (703).
 
Against The Bobcats (Quinnipiac leads, 2-0)
•  Niagara has dropped both meetings to Quinnipiac.
•  The first encounter was on December 22, 2010 when the Purple Eagles fell 88-63 at home.
•  Exactly one year later, NU was edged at Quinnipiac 85-81.
 
Snowden Clutch At Fairfield
•  Freshman Ramone Snowden scored a game-high 18 points, including the go-ahead basket with 26 seconds left, as the Purple Eagles edged the Fairfield Stags, 67-63, on Jan. 16.
•  Snowden went 6-for-7 from the field, including going 4-for-4 behind the 3-point line.
• Snowden had a team-high six rebounds and shared game-high honors with two steals.