Game Notes | Live Audio | Live Stats

No. 10 Niagara Purple Eagles (7-24, 5-15 MAAC) vs. No. 7 Canisius Golden Griffins (13-18, 8-12 MAAC)
Thursday, March 3 – 7:00 PM
Times Union Center – Albany, N.Y.
Radio: AM 1400 WWWS – Todd Callen
The tenth-seeded Niagara Purple Eagles will play the No. 7 seed Canisius Golden Griffins in the 2016 MAAC Tournament First Round on Thursday, March 3 at 7 p.m. at the Times Union Center in Albany, N.Y.
 
Scene Setter
•  Niagara has played Canisius more than any other program in a series that started during Niagara's inaugural season in 1905-06.
• The Purple Eagles are 19-9 in the last 28 meetings, but have only won one of the last five games in the series. 
•  NU was swept in the regular season, falling 70-61 on January 22 at the Gallagher Center and 65-60 on February 25 at Canisius. 
•  Emile Blackman is averaging 17 points, including leading all scorers with a season-high 27 points on February 25, 4.0 rebounds and 3.2 assists in four games against Canisius. 
•  This will be the seventh time Niagara and Canisius will meet in the MAAC Tournament with the series tied at 3-3.
•  The winner will face second-seeded Iona in the MAAC Quarterfinals on Friday at 9:30 p.m.
 
Tipoff Tidbits
•  Niagara is 2-8 in its last 10 games with both wins coming in a season sweep of Marist (January 28 and February 18).
•  Matt Scott was named to the 2015-16 All-MAAC Third Team to become the 11th Purple Eagle in program history to earn All-MAAC Third Team honors.
•  The Purple Eagles finished the regular season third in the MAAC in overall scoring defense (71.0.).
•  Four Purple Eagles have had at least one double-double this season: Matt Scott (six), Justin Satchell (one), Dominic Robb (one), and Marvin Prochet (one). Only Siena and Canisius have at least four players with a double-double.
 
MAAC Tournament Tidbits
•  Niagara is 23-24 with two titles (2005 & 2007) in 26 appearances at the MAAC Tournament.
•  The Purple Eagles are 12-17 all-time in 17 trips to Albany for the MAAC Tournament.
•  This will be the first time Niagara will be a 10th seed since the tournament expanded to at least 10 teams starting in 1998.
•  Niagara is 3-3 all-time in first-round games.
•  Only four Purple Eagles have played in a MAAC Tournament game. Cam Fowler has seen action in three games, with Emile Blackman, Matt Scott and Karonn Davis playing in one game.
 
On The Court
Canisius Golden Griffins (13-18/8-12 MAAC)
•  Canisius enters the MAAC Tournament as the seventh seed with an 8-12 conference record. 
•  The Golden Griffins are 3-7 in their last 10 games, which includes a narrow win over Niagara on February 25.
•  The Golden Griffins are first in turnover margin (+2.84), second in free throw percentage (.746) and in assist/turnover ratio (1.3), third in offensive rebounds per game (12.1), fourth in assists per game (14.3), and fifth in steals per game (6.1) and in scoring (76.4).
•  Malcolm McMillan (14.8 ppg), Kassius Robertson (14.2 ppg), Phil Valenti (14.0 ppg) and Jermaine Crumpton (10.8 ppg) all average double figures on the season.
•  Malcolm McMillan leads the conference with a 2.3 assists/turnover ratio.
 
Against the Griffins (Niagara leads, 101-79)
•  Niagara has faced its archrival six times in the MAAC Tournament and has a 3-3 record. NU has won the last two encounters in the MAAC Tournament with the latest meeting occurring in 2012.
•  The Purple Eagles have not lost to Canisius three times in the same season since the 1993-94 season. 
  
Last Meeting – February 25, 2016
Niagara 60, Canisius 65
 
BUFFALO, N.Y. - Emile Blackman led all scorers with a season-high 27 points as the Niagara Purple Eagles were edged by the Canisius Golden Griffins, 65-60, on Thursday.
 

The Series	Niagara leads 101-79
Last Game	February 25, 2016
	Niagara 61, Canisius 70
Last Niagara win	February 24, 2015
	Niagara 82, Canisius 71
Last Canisius win	February 25, 2016
	Niagara 61, Canisius 70
Last Niagara win vs. Canisius at MAAC Tournament	March 2, 2012
	Niagara 80, Canisius 70
Last Canisius win vs. Niagara at MAAC Tournament	March 3, 2001
	Niagara 70, Canisius 72
Current streak	Canisius, W2

 
Versus Canisius In The MAAC Tournament (3-3)

2012	First Round	Albany, N.Y.	No. 7 Niagara 80, No. 10 Canisius 70
2002	Semifinals	Albany, N.Y.	No. 4 Niagara 70, No. 8 Canisius 60
2001	Quarterfinals	Buffalo, N.Y.	No. 2 Canisius 72, No. 6 Niagara 70
1997	Semifinals	Buffalo, N.Y.	No. 2 Canisius 78, No. 6 Niagara 59
1994	Quarterfinals	Albany, N.Y.	No. 1 Canisius 59, No. 8 Niagara 45
1993	Semifinals	Albany, N.Y.	No. 2 Niagara 64, No. 6 Canisius 59

 
Scott Named To All-MAAC Third Team
•  Sophomore guard Matt Scott was selected to the 2015-16 All-MAAC Third Team.
•  Scott has set career-highs in points, field goals, 3-pointers, free throws, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks this season.
•  Scott leads Niagara with 7.1 rebounds per game, with 1.3 steals per game and with 4.5 free throws made per game, while placing second in assists with 2.5 per game and in scoring with 15.4 per game.
•  In the MAAC, Scott is 10th overall in scoring at 15.4 points per game and is fourth in rebounds per game.
 
Leading Man
• Matt Scott has led or has shared team-high honors in at least one category (points, rebounds, assists, steals or blocks) in 24 games this season.
• Scott has led NU in scoring and in rebounding in the same game 11 times this season.
• Scott leads the team in scoring, rebounds, steals, field goals, free throws and minutes.
 
Feelin' It
•  Emile Blackman has made 34 of his last 35 free throws over an eight-game stretch, including tying a career-best nine free throws at Monmouth on February 28.
•  Blackman has scored in double figures in 14 straight games, including setting a season-high of 27 points to lead all scorers at Canisius on February 25.
•  Blackman is averaging a team-best 18.3 points per game during this stretch.
 
Getting It Done At The Line
•  Niagara shot 90.3 percent (28-for-31) at the free-throw line at Monmouth on February 28 which is a season-high in makes and percentage. It is the highest free throw percentage with a minimum of 25 made free throws since going 29-for-32 (.906) versus Iona on November 11, 2004.
• Emile Blackman and Dominic Robb each tied career-highs with nine and five free throws, respectively. Chris Barton went a perfect 6-for-6 at the line, while Marvin Prochet and Maurice Taylor each made four.