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Game 14
Niagara Purple Eagles (4-9, 1-1 MAAC) vs. Quinnipiac Bobcats (4-8, 1-1 MAAC)
Monday, January 2 – 7 p.m.
Gallagher Center – Niagara University
TV: LCTV – Todd Callen
Radio: AM 1400 WWWS – Todd Callen
 
    The Niagara Purple Eagles step back into MAAC action to begin 2017 on Monday, January 2 as they host the Quinnipiac Bobcats at 7 p.m.
 
Scene Setter
•  Niagara split its MAAC opening weekend in December. After losing a close contest at Marist, the Purple Eagles handed defending MAAC champion Iona a rare home defeat for the Purple Eagles' first win in the series since January 2013.
•  The Purple Eagles are 18-9 in their first home MAAC game including defeating Quinnipiac, 76-72, in last season's conference opener at the Gallagher Center.
•  Niagara is 3-3 in its last six games, including defeating LIU Brooklyn 75-66 in its most recent game to conclude 2016.
•  The Purple Eagles are looking for consecutive wins for first time since January 2016 when they defeated Saint Peter's and Manhattan.
•  Niagara and Quinnipiac have split the last four meetings with each team protecting its home court.
•  10 of Niagara's 13 games have been away from the Gallagher Center. Niagara is 2-1 inside of the Gallagher Center with victories over Drexel and Norfolk State.
 
Tipoff Tidbits
•  Two Purple Eagles rank in the MAAC top-10 in scoring; Matt Scott is tied for sixth with 16.8 points per game and Kahlil Dukes is ninth with 15.8 points per game.
•  Kahlil Dukes leads the MAAC and is THIRD in the nation in free-throw percentage (.952).
•  Dominic Robb leads the MAAC and is 24th in the nation with 2.46 blocks per game while also leading the MAAC and is 26th in the nation in total blocks (32). 
•  Matt Scott leads Niagara in scoring (16.8 ppg), rebounds (6.8 rpg), assists (3.2 apg) and steals (1.2 spg).
•  Kahlil Dukes had his streak of scoring in double figures snapped in Niagara's last game. Dukes was the only Purple Eagle to score in double figures in every game, including a career-high 23 points at North Texas.       
•  Chris Barton has scored at least eight points in the last five games while shooting over 57 percent from the field, 85 percent from 3's and 87 percent from the free-throw line. Barton shared team-high honors in scoring with 14 points and grabbed a career-high seven rebounds at LIU Brooklyn.
• Niagara leads the MAAC in blocked shots per game (5.0), total blocks (65), free throws made (218), and is second in free throw shooting (.754) and rebounds (500).
 
Scott Approaching 1,000-Point Club
•  Junior guard Matt Scott is approaching the 1,000-Point Club at Niagara University.
•  Scott is 171 points away from becoming the 46th member of the club.
 
On The Court
Quinnipiac Bobcats (4-8, 1-1 MAAC)
•  The Bobcats have lost three of their last four games, including two straight.
•  Quinnipiac split its MAAC opening weekend in December with a win over Marist after falling to preseason favorite Monmouth in its MAAC opener.
•  Three Bobcats are averaging double figures - freshman guard Mikey Dixon (14.6 ppg), junior forward Chaise Daniels (11.8 ppg) and freshman guard Peter Kiss (10.3 ppg).
•  Quinnipiac leads the MAAC in offensive rebounding (13.8 per game) and is second in rebounding margin (+2.7)
 
Against Common Opponents
•  Niagara and Quinnipiac each faced Marist, Hartford, Drexel and Brown.
•  Quinnipiac defeated Marist and Hartford while losing to Drexel and Brown.
   
Against the Bobcats (Quinnipiac leads 7-2)
•  After dropping the first five meetings, Niagara has split the last four encounters with both wins coming at home.
•  NU earned its first win in the series with a double overtime victory on February 1, 2015 and won its second in the conference opener in December 2015.
 
Last Meeting – January 30, 2016
Quinnipiac 82, Niagara 68
 
HAMDEN, Conn. – A game-high 22 points by Matt Scott were not enough to overcome a season-high twelve 3-pointers by the hosts as the Niagara Purple Eagles fell to the Quinnipiac Bobcats, 82-68, on Saturday afternoon.
 

The Series	Quinnipiac leads 7-2
Last Game	January 30, 2016
	Quinnipiac 82, Niagara 68
Last Niagara win	December 4, 2015
	Niagara 76, Quinnipiac 72
Last Quinnipiac win	January 30, 2016
	Quinnipiac 82, Niagara 68
Last Niagara win at Home	December 4, 2015
	Niagara 76, Quinnipiac 72
Last Quinnipiac win at Niagara	February 22, 2014
	Quinnipiac 90, Niagara 88
Current Streak	Quinnipiac, W1
Coach Casey vs. Quinnipiac	2-5

 
Scott Named To HoopsHD's Mid-Season All-MAAC Team
•  HoopsHD's Jon Teitel has identified Matt Scott as one of the five best players in the MAAC through the non-conference season.
•  Scott is joined by Monmouth's Justin Robinson, Siena's Brett Bisping, Rider's Kahlil Thomas and Saint Peter's Quadir Welton.
•  This is the second straight season Scott has been added to the list.
 
Swat King
•  Sophomore Dominic Robb is in the running of becoming the single season leader in blocks and blocks per game.
•  The single-season record for blocks and blocks per game was set by Mark Henry who had 72 blocks and 2.40 blocks per game during the 1987-88 season.
•  Robb is well on track of surpassing his total of 34 blocks during his freshman season.
•  Robb, who is averaging a MAAC-best 32 blocks and 2.46 blocks per game, has had at least one block in 11 games this season.
•  The record for most blocks by a sophomore is 66 held by Joe Arlauckas during the 1984-88 season.