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The Niagara Purple Eagles and the Manhattan Jaspers will meet from the first time this season on Sunday at 2 p.m.

Niagara dropped a heartbreaking 90-89 decision to the defending MAAC Champions Iona Gaels on Friday night. The Purple Eagles were unable to hold on to a 12-point lead in the final four minutes and fell on a 3-pointer in the final seconds.

Despite the defeat, there were several positives from the game. Ramone Snowden continued his success against the Gaels, who scored a career-high in the first meeting in Jan. Snowden finished with a team-high 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for his first career double-double. Rayvon Harris was another Purple Eagle who collected his first career double-double with 14 points and a game- and career-high 12 rebounds. Freshman Wesley Myers netted a career-best 16 points.

Niagara and Manhattan have split the last six meetings, with each program picking up season sweeps in the last two campaigns. The Purple Eagles swept last season's series, winning both games by four points.

Tipoff Tidbits
• Antoine Mason moved into sixth all-time in career scoring at Niagara on Feb. 7 after scoring 13 points versus Iona. Mason is 17 points away from moving into fifth place.
• NU had two players have double-doubles (Ramone Snowden & Rayvon Harris vs. Iona) in the same game for the first time since Nov. 25, 2009 against Mount St. Mary's (Bilal Benn - 14 points & 18 rebounds, Rob Garrison – 15 points & 10 rebounds).
• Five players scored in double figures against Iona on Feb. 7 for the first time since the 2013 MAAC Tournament Semifinals against Iona.
• Manhattan and Niagara are fifth and sixth, respectively, in the nation in free throws made and attempts.

How To Tune In
• Sunday's game will be broadcast on Lockport Community Television (LCTV).
• Fans can listen live to all the action from the Voice of the Purple Eagles, Todd Callen, on WGR 550 AM and free online through Purple Eagles All-Access.

Top Gun
•  Antoine Mason is LEADING the nation in scoring at 26.0 points per game.
• Mason LEADS the nation in free throws made (198), free throw attempts (270), field goals made (195) and in field goals attempts (444).
• 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 is THIRD in the nation in fouls drawn per 40 minutes (8.3).

Scoring Machine
•  Antoine Mason has 28 straight games in double figures.
• 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 19 of 23 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 sixth and is 17 points away from moving ahead of Tremmell Darden ('04) for fifth all-time.  

Charity Starts At Home
• Antoine Mason moved ahead of Alex Ellis ('58) for third all-time in free throws made. Mason, who has 514 in his career, is 140 free throws away from tying Calvin Murphy ('70) and Juan Mendez ('05) for first place.
• Mason, the nation's leader in free throws made and attempts, is 44 free throws away from tying Calvin Murphy for most in a single season. Murphy set the single-season school record (242) during the 1967-68.

On The Court
Manhattan Jaspers (16-8, 9-4 MAAC)
• Manhattan, which is ranked 15th in the latest Mid-Major Poll, enters Sunday's game after winning two straight.
• The Jaspers are second in the nation on true road wins with eight.
• George Beamon leads the team and his third in the MAAC with 18.9 points per game. Rhamel Brown is fourth in the nation in blocks with 3.6 per game.
• Manhattan leads the conference in scoring margin, defensive field goal percentage, defensive 3-point field goal percentage, blocks and steals.   

Against The Jaspers (Manhattan leads, 45-30)
• Niagara trails in the all-time series, but has won 13 of the last 17 meetings.
• NU won both games last season to record its first sweep of Manhattan since the 2009-10 season.
• The Purple Eagles are 6-1 in their last seven home meetings with the Jaspers.

Last Meeting - February 17, 2013
Niagara 60, Manhattan 56

RIVERDALE, N.Y. – The Niagara Purple Eagles battled past the Manhattan Jaspers, 60-56, on Sunday to remain in sole possession of first place with two MAAC games remaining.

ESPN Love For Mason
• Antoine Mason was selected by ESPN's college basketball analyst Jay Bilas in the 4th Annual College GameDay Player Draft on Feb. 8.

February Fever
• Niagara is 37-19 in the month of February since the 2006-07 season, including a splendid 23-7 mark at the Gallagher Center.
• NU had its streak of a .500 record or better during the month for sixth straight seasons snapped last season.

Twice As Nice
• Ramond Snowden and Rayvon Harris each recorded their first career double-double against Iona on Feb. 7. Snowden finished with a team-high 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, while Harris scored 14 points and had a game- and career-high 12 rebounds.
• It was the first since the 2009-10 season that two Purple Eagles had a double-double in the same game: Bilal Benn - 14 points & 18 rebounds, Rob Garrison – 15 points & 10 rebounds vs. Mount St. Mary's.