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Game 8
Niagara Purple Eagles (1-6, 0-1 MAAC) vs. Iona Gaels (4-2, 1-0 MAAC)
Friday, December 4 – 4:00 p.m.
Hynes Center – Iona College
ESPN3: Jared Smith and Adam Finkelstein
Radio: AM 1400 WWWS – Todd Callen
Internet: Niagara Sports Network
The Niagara Purple Eagles continue their MAAC opening weekend against the Iona Gaels on Sunday at 4 p.m.
 
Scene Setter
•  Niagara is in the midst of a four-game road swing which started with a defeat at North Texas on November 25.
•  The Purple Eagles opened their MAAC schedule with a narrow 72-66 defeat at Marist on December 2.
•  Seven of Niagara's first nine games are on the road, including this weekend's MAAC opening weekend against Marist and Iona.
•  NU is in search of its first road win since beating Marist on Jan. 18, 2016.
•  Sunday's game features the MAAC top two teams in 3-point percentage in the MAAC with Iona shooting 36.8 percent and Niagara shooting 36.5 percent.
 
Tipoff Tidbits
•  The Purple Eagles picked up their first win of the season with a resounding 93-74 victory over Drexel on Nov. 23.
•  Matt Scott recorded his seventh double-double, and first of the season, with 15 points and a team-high 10 rebounds at Marist on December 2.
•  Kahlil Dukes is the only Purple Eagle to score in double figures in every game, including a career-high 23 points at North Texas. In the last three games, Dukes is averaging a team-best 20 points on 54.3 percent (19-for-35) from the field, 61.5 percent (8-for-13) from 3-pointers and 14-for-14 at the free throw line.
•  Dominic Robb leads the MAAC and is 23^rd in the nation with 2.7 blocks per game while also leading the MAAC and is 21^st in the nation in total blocks (19).  Robb has had at least two blocks in each game.
 
Perfect Dukes
•  Kahlil Dukes is one of 14 players in the nation to be perfect at the free throw line (minimum 40% minutes played and 2 shots per game to qualify).
•  Dukes is 20-for-20 at the charity stripe which is THIRD in the nation.
•  The school record for consecutive free throws made is held by Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Calvin Murphy who made 27 straight during the 1969-70 season.
 
Leading Man
•  Matt Scott leads Niagara in points per game (19.3), assists per game (4.0), steals per game (1.3), and free throws made per game (6.6).
•  Matt Scott is the only player to be ranked in the MAAC top-10 in points, rebounds, assists and steals. 
 
On The Court
Iona Gaels (4-2, 1-0 MAAC)
•  After six games away from home to start the season, the Gaels will play their first home game of the season on Sunday.
•  The Gaels are on a four-game winning streak heading into Sunday's game.
•  Iona won three contests to capture the 39th edition of the Great Alaska Shootout to become the first MAAC program to win the title.
•  Sam Cassell Jr., who was named MVP of the Great Alaska Shootout and was named MAAC Player of the Week on Nov. 28, leads Iona with 16.0 ppg and 3.7 apg.
•  The Gaels were picked third in the MAAC Preseason Poll and had two players (Jordan Washington and Deyshonee Much) named to the preseason team.
 
Against the Gales (Iona leads 45-34)
•  After winning four straight from 2006-08, the series has shifted in favor of Iona. The Purple Eagles have dropped 15 of the last 18 meetings, including seven straight.
•  Niagara's last win in the series was a 93-90 overtime win on January 31, 2013 at the Gallagher Center.
•  NU is in search of its first win at Iona since February 2, 2009.
 
Last Meeting – February 7, 2016
Iona 75, Niagara 61
 
NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – A gritty second half performance gave Niagara life, but the Purple Eagles ultimately fell short to the Iona Gaels, 75-61, on Sunday afternoon.
 

The Series	Iona leads, 43-34
Last Game	February 7, 2016
	Iona 75, Niagara 61
Last Niagara win	January 31, 2013
	Niagara 93, Iona 90 (OT)
Last Iona win	February 7, 2016
	Iona 75, Niagara 61
Last Niagara win at Iona	February 2, 2009
	Niagara 65, Iona 53
Last Iona win at Home	January 4, 2016
	Iona 65, Niagara 52
Current streak	Iona, W7
Coach Casey vs. Iona	0-6

   
Electric Shooting Nearly Set Records
•  The Purple Eagles had one of their hottest shooting games in program history in their 93-74 win versus Drexel on Nov. 23.
•  The Purple Eagles shot 83.3 percent (10-for-12) from the 3-point line which is the second highest percentage in program history. The program record is 84.6 percent (11-for-13) which was set on Jan. 19, 1993 against St. Bonaventure. 
•  Niagara shot 62.3 percent (33-for-53) from the field which was 5.6 percent shy of tying the program record of 67.9 percent (36-for-53) which was also set versus the Bonnies in 1993.
•  Both the field goal and 3-point field percentage are MAAC highs.
 
Making The "Free Ones" Count
•  Niagara leads the MAAC and is 32^nd in the nation in free throw percentage (.766).
•  Niagara shot 96.3 percent (26-for-27) from the free-throw line against Marist on December 2 for its second highest percentage in program history (minimum 20 made). The record is 96.8 (30-for-31) against Fairfield on Jan. 31, 1998.
•  Matt Scott leads the MAAC and is 17th in the nation in free throws made (46). Scott's career-high 14 free throws at Rutgers are the most in the MAAC this season.
 
Dominating The Boards
•  NU outrebounded Marist, 52-33, in its MAAC opener on December 2.
•  The 52 rebounds are the most since Niagara's double-overtime victory over Rider in the 2009 MAAC Tournament semifinals (58) and the most in regulation since the 2008-09 season opener against Towson (59).
•  The 52 boards are also the most in the MAAC this season.
 
Block Party
•  Niagara had a season-high nine blocks at Rutgers – Dominic Robb had a career-high four blocks, Ali Tew and Marvin Prochet each had two blocks, and Maurice Taylor had one.
• Niagara's nine blocks are the most since Feb. 28, 2010 (nine against Fairfield) and are the most among MAAC teams.