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Game 12
Niagara Purple Eagles (5-6, 0-0 MAAC) vs. Cleveland State Vikings (3-6, 0-0 Horizon)
Tuesday, December 19 – 7:00 p.m.
Frank and Barbara Layden Court at the Gallagher Center
Broadcast: Lockport Community Television – Todd Callen
Radio: AM 1400 WWWS – Todd Callen
Internet: Niagara Sports Network
 
Coming off a last-second win on the road, the Niagara Purple Eagles return to the Gallagher Center to host the Cleveland State Vikings on Tuesday, December 19 at 7 p.m.
 
Scene Setter
•  Matt Scott's last second 3-pointer capped a frantic second half rally as the Purple Eagles defeated the Norfolk State Spartans, 85-82, on December 16.
•  Niagara trailed by as much as 18 points in the second half before pulling out its third road victory of the season.
•  Niagara and Cleveland State renews their series for the first time since the 1987-88 season. The Purple Eagles lead the all-time series, 4-3.
•  The Purple Eagles, who are 2-1 in December, are in search of their best December start since going 4-1 through five games in December 2009.
 
Tipoff Tidbits
•  For the third time this season, Matt Scott was named MAAC Player of the Week announced on Monday. This is the fourth consecutive week a Purple Eagle has been named conference player of the week. , a Purple Eagle has been named player of the week.
•  Matt Scott, who is SECOND in the nation in scoring, led all scorers with a career-high 36 points at BYU. The 36 points are the most points by a Purple Eagle since Antoine Mason's 38 points against Marist on March 6, 2014.
•  Matt Scott is 14th on the career scoring list and is 10 points away from tying Marshall Wingate ('72) for 13th.
•  Kahlil Dukes is FIRST in the conference in free throw percentage (.895) and is is FOURTH in the NCAA in career active free throw percentage (.906).
•  Kahlil Dukes leads the MAAC in 3-pointers per game (3.5), total 3-pointers (39) and in 3-point field goal percentage (.481).  Dukes' career-high eight 3-pointers at New Hampshire are the most in the MAAC and tied for seventh most in the NCAA this season.
•  Dominic Robb moved into sixth place on the career blocks list (118) with a season and MAAC-high six blocks against St. Francis on December 10.  Robb has two of the top 10 most single-game blocks in program history.
 
It Takes Two
•  Matt Scott (24.9) and Kahlil Dukes (21.5) are the top scoring pair in the nation. Scott and Dukes are first and second, respectively, in scoring in the MAAC through 11 games. The duo is accounting for 55 percent of Niagara's scoring.
•  The duo is the only pair in the NCAA to have at least eight 20-plus points games this season. Scott has nine 20-point games which leads the MAAC and is tied for third in the NCAA.
•  The tandem has scored 20-plus points in the same game six times this season.
 
On The Court
Cleveland State Vikings (3-6, 0-0 Horizon)
•  The Vikings were picked ninth in the Horizon League Preseason Poll.
•  Cleveland State won its previous game, defeating Notre Dame College (Ohio), 89-56, on December 10.
•  Three Vikings are averaging in double figures - Kenny Carpenter (14.4 ppg), Tyree Appleby (11.7 ppg), and Bobby Word (10.2 ppg).
•  Freshman Tyree Appleby is a two-time Horizon League Freshman of the Week (Dec. 4 and 10) recipient.          
•  Cleveland State leads the Horizon League in defensive field goal percentage (.412).
 
Against The Vikings (Niagara leads 4-3)
•  Niagara leads the all-time series, 4-3, that started in the 1977-78 season. However, the teams haven't met since the 1987-88 season.
•  The Purple Eagles are 3-0 at home (Niagara Falls Convention Center and Gallagher Center) in the series.
 
Last Meeting - December 28, 1987
Cleveland State 86, Niagara 76
 

The Series	Niagara leads 4-3
Last Game	December 28, 1987
	Cleveland State 86, Niagara 76
Last Niagara win	February 23, 1982
	Niagara 77, Cleveland State 75
Last Cleveland State win	December 28, 1987
	Cleveland State 86, Niagara 76
Last Niagara win at Home	December 28, 1987
	Cleveland State 86, Niagara 76
Last Cleveland State win at Niagara	Never
Current Streak	Cleveland State, W1
Coach Casey vs. Cleveland State	First Meeting

 
Against The Horizon League
•  The Purple Eagles are 16-18 all-time against members of the Horizon League.
•  Niagara has faced five members (Cleveland State, Detroit, Milwaukee, Youngstown State, and Valparaiso) of the 10-team league.
 
Three Time's A Charm
•  For the third time this season, Matt Scott was named MAAC Player of the Week announced on December 18.
•  Scott scored the game-winning basket to complete a comeback victory at Norfolk State on December 16 in Niagara's lone game of the week. Scott connected on a 3-pointer, his team-best fourth of the game, with 0.5 seconds remaining to give Niagara an 85-82 win in a game that the Purple Eagles trailed by 18 points in the second half.
•  Scott finished with a game-high 20 points for his ninth straight 20-point game.  He chipped in four rebounds, two assists and one steal in 31 minutes.
 
Mattie Ice In His Veins
•  Matt Scott has been "cold-blooded" in the closing seconds of games this season. He drained a game-winning 3-pointer with 0.5 seconds left to beat Norfolk State on December 16.
•  Scott's last-second 3-pointer at Norfolk State was his second last second shot to "win" a game this season. Scott connected a 3-pointer to beat ARBA San Ramon of the Costa Rican Liga as part of Niagara's tour of Costa Rica in August. 
•  Scott has two buzzer-beating baskets to close out the first half this season. Scott hit a deep 3-pointer at the buzzer against UT Arlington and beat the buzzer with a layup versus Buffalo.