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The ninth-seeded Niagara Purple Eagles bring a MAAC-best four-game winning streak into the 2015 MAAC Tournament when they face No. 8 seed Siena on Thursday, March 5 at 5 p.m. from the Times Union Center in Albany, N.Y.

Niagara enters the MAAC Tournament on a four-game win streak for its longest streak in three seasons and is the longest active streak in the conference. The last time the Purple Eagles entered the MAAC Tournament with a winning streak of four or more games was in 2007 when they won eight straight to end the regular season and went on to win the MAAC Tournament as the No. 2 seed.

The Purple Eagles open the 2015 edition against a familiar foe, the Siena Saints. The teams will meet for the eighth time which are the most meetings for NU against an opponent. Niagara is 3-4 against Siena in the previous seven meetings, including eliminating the Saints in the most recent encounter in the tournament in the 2013 quarterfinals, 74-62. The win is also Niagara's last in the series as the Purple Eagles have dropped the four straight to the Saints.
 
Tipoff Tidbits
•  NU is 23-23 with two titles (2005 & 2007) in 25 appearances at the MAAC Championship.
•  The Purple Eagles are 12-16 all-time in 16 trips to Albany for the MAAC Tournament.
•  Dominique Reid was named to the 2014-15 MAAC All-Rookie Team. Reid, who is Niagara's lone representative on an All-MAAC team, averaged 9.3 points per game and was second on the team in rebounds with 5.8 per contest.
•  Emile Blackman, who has scored in double figures in 12 of the last 14 games, is the only player in the MAAC ranked in the Top-11 in scoring (13.6 ppg), field goal percentage (.460) and 3-point field goal percentage (.390).
•  Dominique Reid's five double-doubles are the most among MAAC freshmen and the most by a Purple Eagle since Bilal Benn had 13 during the 2009-10 season.
•  The Purple Eagles' 60 percent (27-for-45) field goal percentage at Canisius is the highest in a MAAC game and second highest by a MAAC team this season.
•  The Purple Eagles made 15 of 16 free throws in the win at Rider on Feb. 21. The 93.8 free throw percentage is the highest since NU shot 94.7 percent (18-for-19) in a 69-61 victory at St. Bonaventure on Dec. 11, 2010.
•  The Purple Eagles' plus-19 rebounding margin versus Rider on Feb. 15 is their largest in nine seasons (plus-24 versus Siena on February 25, 2006).
•  Niagara's 22 assists against Quinnipiac on Feb. 1 are the most since having 23 versus Marist on February 6, 2011.
•  Emile Blackman's six 3-pointers at Rider are the most since Marvin Jordan drained eight 3-pointers, which are a program record by a sophomore, at Rider on Feb. 5, 2012.
•  According to KenPom.com, Niagara is the THIRD youngest team in the nation. NU has 12 underclassmen on the roster. 

How To Tune-In
• Fans can listen live to all the action from "The Voice of the Purple Eagles" Todd Callen on AM 1400 WWWS and on the Niagara Sports Network via PurpleEagles.com

On The Court
No. 8 Siena Saints (10-19/7-13 MAAC)
•  Since beating Niagara on Jan. 18, the Saints are 3-9 and enter the MAAC Tournament on a five-game losing streak.
•  Rob Poole was named to the All-MAAC Third Team for the second straight season. Poole is ninth in the conference with 14.2 points per game and second in the MAAC in free throw percentage (.833).
•  Siena is second in the MAAC in steals (60) and steals per game (2.0), led by Marquis Wright who leads the MAAC with 60 steals.
 
Against the Saints (Siena leads 47-46)
•  After winning six of eight including four straight games, Niagara has lost the last four meetings to the Saints.
•  The four-game losing streak to the Saints is the longest since losing four straight from December 2005 to January 2007.
•  NU is 3-4 all-time against Siena in the MAAC Tournament including a 1-4 record against the Saints in Albany, a 0-3 record as the lower seed and a 1-2 record in the championship game.
 
Last Meeting – January 18, 2015
Niagara 70, Siena 74
 
NIAGARA UNIV, N.Y. –  In a game that featured 10 lead changes and six ties, the Purple Eagles were edged in the final minutes to the Siena Saints, 74-70, on Sunday at the Gallagher Center.
 

The Series	Siena leads, 47-46
Last Game	January 18, 2015
	Niagara 70, Siena 74
Last Niagara win	March 9, 2013
	Niagara 74, Siena 62
Last Siena win	January 18, 2015
	Niagara 70, Siena 74
Last Niagara win in MAAC Tournament	March 9, 2013
	No. 1 Niagara 74, No. 9 Siena 62
Last Siena win in MAAC Tournament	March 9, 2009
	No. 2 Niagara 70, No. 1 Siena 77
Current Streak	Siena, W4
Coach Casey vs. Siena	0-4

 
Versus Siena In The MAAC Tournament (3-4)

1992	Quarterfinals	Albany, N.Y.	No. 3 Siena 83, No. 6 Niagara 57
2000	Semifinals	Albany, N.Y.	No. 1 Siena 90, No. 5 Niagara 88
2002	Final	Albany, N.Y.	No. 7 Siena 92, No. 4 Niagara 77
2004	Semifinal	Albany, N.Y.	No. 2 Niagara 79, No. 6 Siena 74
2007	Final	Bridgeport, Conn.	No. 2 Niagara 83, No. 4 Siena 79
2009	Final	Albany, N.Y.	No. 1 Siena 77, No. 2 Niagara 70
2013	Quarterfinal	Springfield, Mass.	No. 1 Niagara 74, No. 9 Siena 62

 
Dominique Reid Named To MAAC All-Rookie Team
•  Dominique Reid is the seventh Purple Eagle in program history to be named to the MAAC All-Rookie Team.
•  Reid played in all 29 regular season games, including starting the 12 last games. He averaged 9.3 points per game, was second on the team in rebounds with 5.8 per contest, made a team-best 2.9 free throws per game and was tied for the team-lead in blocks with 14.
•  In MAAC games, Reid was second on the team with 11.4 ppg, led the team and was eighth with 6.8 rebounds per game and led NU with 13 blocks.
•  Reid led all MAAC freshmen with five double-doubles during the regular season for the most by a Purple Eagle in five seasons.
 
Double Your Flavor
•  Dominique Reid earned his second MAAC Rookie of the Week award on March 2.
•  Reid averaged 18 points per game and 9.0 rebounds per game to lead the Purple Eagles in both categories in wins over Canisius and Fairfield.
•  He was also named College Sports Madness' MAAC Player of the Week.
 
#SCTop10
•  Emile Blackman's array of highlight-worthy dunks this season were rewarded with an appearance on ESPN's SportsCenter Top 10 Plays on Feb. 24.
•  Blackman's alley-oop dunk from Karonn Davis on an out-of-bounds play at the 11:50 mark in the second half at Canisius was named as the fourth best play.
 
Little 3 Business
• The Purple Eagles have dominated the Little 3 in recent seasons, owning a 27-11 record in the last 38 games against Canisius and St. Bonaventure.
• Niagara is 19-7 versus the Golden Griffins since Feb. 12, 2003 and is 8-4 against St. Bonaventure.
•  NU has dropped the last four meetings to St. Bonaventure, but snapped a four-game losing streak to Canisius on Feb. 24. 
 
Tickling The Twine
•  The Purple Eagles shot a season-high 60 percent from the field, including a 78.9 field goal percentage in the second half, in their 82-71 win over Canisius on Feb. 24.
•  The 60 percent (27-for-45) field goal percentage is the highest in a MAAC game and second highest by a MAAC team this season.
•  The 78.9 field goal percentage is the second highest percentage in a half in program history. NU shot a program-best 80 percent (20-for-25) against Western Michigan on Dec. 21, 1981.
•  The second half field goal percentage also set a new Koessler Athletic Center record, breaking the record previously held by Canisius (77.3) against Buffalo on Nov. 30, 1983.