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Niagara Purple Eagles (6-20, 4-11 MAAC) vs. Rider Broncs (10-16, 6-9 MAAC)
Sunday, February 14 – 2:00 PM
Alumni Gymnasium – Lawrenceville, N.J.
Radio: AM 1400 WWWS – Todd Callen
The Niagara Purple Eagles head to the Broncs' Zoo to face Rider on Valentine's Day at 2 p.m.
 
Scene Setter
•  Sunday will be the 43rd meeting between the programs with the series tied at 21-21.
•  10 of the last 17 meetings have been decided by less than four points, including Niagara's 65-61 win on February 21, 2015 to stop a five-game losing streak in the series.
•  That win at Rider on February 21 was the Purple Eagles' first at Alumni Gymnasium since January 14, 2007.
•  The Purple Eagles and Broncs met eight days ago at the Gallagher Center with Rider erasing a 12-point Niagara first half lead to win 66-60.
•  The Purple Eagles are in search of consecutive wins at Rider for only the second time in series history. NU won at Rider in its first two visits (January 1993 and January 1998).
 
Tipoff Tidbits
•  Matt Scott is one of two players in the MAAC (Siena's Brett Bisping) to have at least nine 20-point games and six 10-rebound games.
•  Matt Scott is seventh in the MAAC in scoring with 16.5 per game, fourth in rebounds with 7.2 per game, and seventh in steals with 1.5 per game. Scott is the only player in the MAAC to rank in the top 10 in points, rebounds and steals per game.
• Marvin Prochet led Niagara in scoring with 19 points and with eight rebounds at Saint Peter's on Friday. Prochet tied his career-high of 19 points on 6 of 13 shooting while connecting on a career-high three 3-pointers.
•  Emile Blackman is averaging 20 points in three meetings with the Broncs, while Matt Scott is averaging 12.6 points per game and 6.6 rebounds per game against Rider. Both have scored in double figures in every meeting.
•  NU will play its final two home games of the season next week against Marist (February 18) and Fairfield (February 20).
 
Blackman Approaching 1,000 Career Points
•  Emile Blackman needs 46 points to reach 1,000 points in his career.
•  Blackman scored 170 of his 954 career points while playing at NCAA Division II LIU Post during the 2012-13 season.
 
The Sixth Sense
•  Matt Scott recorded his sixth double-double of the season and of his career on February 5 against Rider with 16 points and a team-high 11 rebounds.
•  His six double-doubles are third most in the MAAC this season. 
•  The six double-doubles are the most by a Purple Eagle since Bilal Benn had 13 during the 2009-10 season.
 
On The Court
Rider Broncs (10-16/6-9 MAAC)
•  The Broncs have dropped two straight games since edging the Purple Eagles. Rider fell at Canisius, 67-61, on February 7 and lost in the final seconds at Monmouth, 79-78, on Friday.
•  Rider is second in the MAAC in scoring defense (67.6 ppg) and third in field goal defensive percentage (.410).
•  Kahlil Thomas leads the conference in field goal percentage (.576) and third in rebounds per game (8.2).
•  Three Broncs are averaging double figures scoring: Teddy Okereafor (13.8 ppg), Kahlil Thomas (11.4 ppg) and Xavier Lundy (10.8 ppg). 
 
Against the Broncs (Tied 21-21)
•  Niagara holds a slim 21-20 series lead that began with a Purple Eagles' 69-44 win on January 2, 1992.
•  Niagara snapped a five-game losing streak in the series with a victory on Feb. 21, 2015 to regain the all-time series lead, before Rider rallied to beat Niagara in the first meeting this season. 
 
Last Meeting – February 5, 2016
Niagara 60, Rider 66
 
NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The Niagara University men's basketball team was unable to hold off a second half rally by the Rider Broncs in a 66-60 defeat on Friday night.
 

Last Game	February 5, 2016
	Niagara 60, Rider 66
Last Niagara win	February 21, 2015
	Niagara 65, Rider 61
Last Rider win	February 5, 2016
	Niagara 60, Rider 66
Last Niagara win at Rider	February 21, 2015
	Niagara 65, Rider 61
Last Rider win at Home	January 2, 2014
	Niagara 83, Rider 85
Current Streak	Rider, W1

 
Leading Man
• Matt Scott has led or has shared team-high honors in at least one category (points, rebounds, assists, steals or blocks) in 21 games this season.
•  Scott has led NU in scoring and in rebounding in the same game 10 times this season.
• Scott leads the team in scoring, rebounds, steals, field goals, free throws and minutes.
 
February Frenzy
• Niagara is 42-32 in the month of February since the 2006-07 season.
• The Purple Eagles are 24-14 at home during that stretch.
• NU finished with an overall record of .500 or better in seven of the last nine seasons.