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Game 15
Niagara Purple Eagles (4-10, 1-2 MAAC) vs. Siena Saints (4-10, 1-2 MAAC)
Wednesday, January 4 – 7 p.m.
Gallagher Center – Niagara University
TV: Time Warner Cable SportsChannel - Kevin Sylvester and Richard Walsh
Radio: WGR 550AM – Todd Callen
 
   The Niagara Purple Eagles continue their two-game home stint by hosting the Siena Saints on Wednesday, January 4 at 7 p.m.
 
Scene Setter
•  The Purple Eagles opened 2017 at home on Monday where they fell to the Quinnipiac Bobcats, 81-78, in a game which they led for the majority of.
•  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 series with the Saints has been one of streaks recently. The Purple Eagles won four straight from 2011-13, but have lost the last seven meetings.
•  NU is 5-3 in the last eight home meetings, but have dropped the last three encounters at the Gallagher Center.   
•  Wednesday's meeting will feature the MAAC's top two leaders in blocks in Dominic Robb and Siena's Javion Ogunyemi (1.64).
 
Tipoff Tidbits
•  Two Purple Eagles rank in the MAAC top-10 in scoring; Matt Scott is tied for eighth with 16.2 points per game and Kahlil Dukes is ninth with 15.6 points per game.
•  Kahlil Dukes leads the MAAC and is FOURTH in the nation in free-throw percentage (.955).
•  Dominic Robb leads the MAAC and is 24th in the nation with 2.36 blocks per game while also leading the MAAC and is 26th in the nation in total blocks (33). 
•  Matt Scott leads Niagara in scoring (16.2 ppg), rebounds (6.9 rpg) and steals (1.1 spg).           
•  Chris Barton has scored at least eight points in the last six games while shooting over 64 percent from the field, 90 percent from 3's and 87.5 percent from the free-throw line. Barton shared team-high honors in scoring with a season-high 15 points while trying a career-high with four 3-pointers against Quinnipiac.
•  Niagara made a season-high 12 3-pointers against Quinnipiac on January 2. Chris Barton and Shane Gatling each made four, Marvin Prochet had three and Kahlil Dukes had one. The 12 triples are the most since hitting 12 3-pointers in a double overtime win against Quinnipiac on Feb. 1, 2015 and the most in regulation since draining 12 against Northwestern State on February 23, 2013.
• Niagara leads the MAAC in blocked shots per game (4.9) and total blocks (69), and  is second in free throws made (230), free throw shooting percentage (.754) and 3-point field goal percentage (.366).
 
Scott Approaching 1,000-Point Club
•  Junior guard Matt Scott is approaching the 1,000-Point Club at Niagara University.
•  Scott is 162 points away from becoming the 46th member of the club.
 
On The Court
Siena Saints (4-10, 1-2 MAAC)
•  Siena is 1-5 in its last six games, including dropping its last three games (Hofstra, Vermont, Canisius).
•  Siena is 0-9 on the road this season including loses to MAAC opponents Rider and Canisius.
•  The Saints starting lineup is averaging double figures scoring - Nico Clareth (15.3 ppg), Marquis Wright (14.7 ppg), Javion Ogunyemi (13.5 ppg), Lavon Long (11.5), and Brett Bisping (11.1 ppg).
•  Marquis Wright is second in the MAAC in assist/turnover ratio (2.65) and third in assists per game (4.9).
•  Brett Bisping leads the MAAC in total rebounds (134) and second in rebounds per game (9.6), while his four double-doubles are third in the conference.
 
Against Common Opponents
•  Niagara and Siena have each faced St. Bonaventure with both teams falling to the Bonnies.
  
Against the Saints (Siena leads 50-46)
•  After winning six of eight in the series, including four straight, Niagara has lost the last seven meetings to the Saints.
•  The Purple Eagles are looking for their first win in the series since defeating Siena in the 2013 MAAC Tournament First Round.
 
Last Meeting – January 26, 2016
Siena 82, Niagara 70
 
NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – Matt Scott poured in a career-high 31 points to lead all scorers, but Niagara was unable to overcome a slow start as it fell to Siena, 82-70, on Tuesday night.
 

The Series	Siena leads 50-46
Last Game	January 26, 2016
	Siena 82, Niagara 70
Last Niagara win	March 9, 2013
	Niagara 74, Siena 62
Last Siena win	January 26, 2016
	Siena 82, Niagara 70
Last Niagara win at Home	January 17, 2013
	Niagara 87, Siena 64
Last Siena win at Niagara	January 26, 2016
	Siena 82, Niagara 70
Current Streak	Siena, W7