Eight days after edging Manhattan, the Niagara Purple Eagles will look for a regular season sweep for the first time since the 2012-13 season on Sunday at 2 p.m.
Tipoff Tidbits• The Niagara Purple Eagles had their two-game win streak snapped in a 73-68 defeat to the Fairfield Stags on Friday.
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Justin Satchell tip-in with 1.2 seconds remaining lifted the Niagara Purple Eagles to a 55-53 win over the two-time defending MAAC champions Manhattan Jaspers on January 9.
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Matt Scott is averaging 12 points and eight rebounds in three meetings with Manhattan, including setting his career-high with 23 points last January.
• With wins over Saint Peter's and Manhattan, Niagara won consecutive home conference games for the first time since January 2013.
• The Purple Eagles tied a season-high in assists with 17 while having a season-low 10 turnovers in the win over Saint Peter's.
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Emile Blackman leads the MAAC in field goal attempts (239). He has attempted at least 10 shots in every game except in the season opener.
• NU is 4-1 when making more free throws than its opponents (Brown, North Carolina A&T, Saint Peter's) with the lone defeat to St. Bonaventure.
• Niagara is third in the MAAC in overall scoring defense (69.9) and is on pace for its lowest points per game allowed total since the 2009-10 season (69.4).
• Through seven league games, the Purple Eagles lead the MAAC in 3-point field goal percentage defense (.312) and are second in scoring defense (65.0).
• NU will be playing its 10th true road game of the season and is in search of its first road win since defeating Canisius on February 24, 2015 in its final road game of the regular season.
Chairmen of the Boards • In Niagara's win over Manhattan on January 9, the Purple Eagles outrebounded the Jaspers with a season-high 46 rebounds to 27, including 19 offensive rebounds.
• The plus-19 rebounding margin is the largest since having a plus-24 advantage at Siena on Feb. 25, 2006; the 19 offensive rebounds are the most since having 21 at Iona on Jan. 4, 2014.
• The 46 rebounds are the most since grabbing 48 against Iona on Feb. 7, 2014.
May The Fourth Be With You•
Matt Scott collected his fourth double-double of the season and in his career with team-highs in scoring with 17 and in rebounds with 10 at Fairfield on January 15.
• Scott's four double-doubles are tied for second in the MAAC.
• Scott's four double-doubles are the most by a Purple Eagle guard since Anthony Nelson had four, including a triple-double, during the 2010-11 season.
On The CourtManhattan Jaspers (6-10, 3-4 MAAC)• Manhattan is 6-10 on the season and has lost two straight games including a defeat to Niagara on January 9.
• Three Jaspers are averaging in double figures led by Shane Richards (18.1), Rich Williams (15.9 ppg) and Zane Waterman (10.8 ppg).
• Manhattan leads the MAAC in steals per game (7.8).
Against the Jaspers (Manhattan leads 48-32)• Niagara trails in the all-time series, but has won 15 of the last 22 meetings.
• The Purple Eagles improved to 8-2 in their last 10 home meetings versus Manhattan when they beat the Jaspers on January 9.
• The Purple Eagles are 6-4 in their last 10 visits to Manhattan.
• The programs alternated season sweeps in the previous three seasons. The Purple Eagles swept the series during the 2012-13 season, winning both games by four points, while Manhattan swept in 2011-12 and 2013-14.
Last Meeting – January 9, 2016Niagara 55, Manhattan 53 NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – A
Justin Satchell's tip-in with 1.2 seconds remaining lifted the Niagara Purple Eagles to a 55-53 win over the two-time defending MAAC champions Manhattan Jaspers on Saturday.
