Fresh off a road win at an ACC opponent, the Niagara Purple Eagles return to the friendly-confines of the Gallagher Center for their next two games beginning on Sunday versus the New Hampshire Wildcats.
Scene Setter
• Niagara snapped a three-game skid with a program-defining victory over the Pitt Panthers on December 3.
• The Purple Eagles led for the final 14 minutes and held off a late surge to come away with the program's first win against a Power 5 program in 37 seasons.
• Niagara's three victories have come against opponents from the ACC, Atlantic-10 and Mountain West Conference.
• Niagara and New Hampshire renewed their series for the first time since January 1989 when they met in Durham last December. The Purple Eagles knocked off the Wildcats, 78-70, to win 11 of the last 12 meetings. Niagara is 6-2 at home all-time in the series.
• The Purple Eagles are looking to start the month of December 2-0 for the first time since December 2009.
Tipoff Tidbits
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Dominic Robb moved into second place on the career blocks list after a four-block performance at Pitt gave him 184 career blocks. Robb is 36 blocks away from tying Joe Arlauckas ('87) for first place.
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Dominic Robb leads the MAAC and is second in the nation in blocks per game (4.0) and is sixth in total blocks (28).
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Marvin Prochet leads the MAAC and is 18th in the nation in double-doubles.
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Marvin Prochet notched his fourth straight double-double after posting game-highs in points (23) and in rebounds (12), which both tied season-high marks, in the defeat to Grambling State on November 23. The four straight double-doubles are the longest streak by a Purple Eagle since Benson Egemonye had four straight during the 2008-09 season. Prochet has 13 career double-doubles, including 16 career 10-rebound games.
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Marvin Prochet is 35 points away from becoming the 47th member of the 1,000 point club.
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Dominic Robb established a new career-high in blocks with eight, including seven in the first half, which are tied for the second most blocks in a game in program history. The eight blocks are also tied for third most in the nation this season. Robb has three of the top-8 most blocks in a game in Niagara history.
• In the win at Pitt, the Purple Eagles had their highest rebound margin (+7) of the season.
• The Purple Eagles rank 19th in free throw percentage nationally.
• The Purple Eagles are the only team in the MAAC to have three players record a double-double (
Marvin Prochet,
Dominic Robb,
Greg Kuakumensah) this season.
• Niagara is 8-1 in games decided by less than four points since the 2017-18 season.
On The Court
New Hampshire Wildcats (2-7, 0-0 America East)
• In the America East Men's Basketball Preseason Poll, New Hampshire was picked in a tie for seventh place.
• The Wildcats have dropped their last six contests dating back to Nov. 16, including a loss against fellow MAAC opponent Quinnipiac.
• A pair of Wildcats are currently averaging double figures this season - Jordan Reed (10.9 points per game) and Josh Hopkins (10.0 ppg).
• Since the start of the 2017-18 season, the Wildcats have compiled a 2-17 road record.
• New Hampshire leads the America East in both 3-point field goal percentage (.368) and average 3-point field goals made per game (9.6).
Against The Wildcats (Niagara leads, 13-5)
• Niagara has dominated the series with New Hampshire, winning 13 of the 18 contests.
• Last season's matchup between the two programs was the first since January 1989.
• Niagara has won 11 of the last 12 matchups against New Hampshire.
Last Meeting - December 5, 2018
Niagara 78, New Hampshire 70
DURHAM, N.H. – The nation's highest scoring duo,
Matt Scott and
Kahlil Dukes, continued its eye popping scoring by combining for 58 points to lift the Niagara Purple Eagles over the New Hampshire Wildcats, 78-70.
| The Series |
Niagara leads, 13-5 |
| Last Game |
December 5, 2018 |
|
Niagara 78, New Hampshire 70 |
| Last Niagara win |
December 5, 2018 |
|
Niagara 78, New Hampshire 70 |
| Last New Hampshire win |
January 21, 1989 |
|
New Hampshire 81, Niagara 80 |
| Last Niagara win at home |
January 21, 1988 |
|
Niagara 63, New Hampshire 56 |
| Last New Hampshire win at Niagara |
January 21, 1989 |
|
New Hampshire 81, Niagara 80 |
| Current streak |
Niagara, W1 |
| Coach Casey vs. New Hampshire |
1-0 |
Against The America East
• Niagara holds a commanding 45-17 advantage the current members of the America East
• Niagara's 13 wins against New Hampshire are the second-most against an America East opponent, trailing only Vermont with 16.
"The Power of Niagara"
• Niagara defeated a current Power 5 (ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12, SEC) opponent for the first time in 37 years when the Purple Eagles upended the ACC's Pitt Panthers, 71-70, on December 5.
• The Purple Eagles previously dropped their last 27 games versus current Power 5 teams and won their first game against a Power 5 school in the current format since the breakup of the old Big East in 2013.
• The last win against a current Power 5 team was against Penn State during the 1981-82 season, which was prior to the Nittany Lions joining the B1G.
• It was Niagara's first win against an ACC opponent since topping Syracuse during the 1975-76 season prior the Orange joining the ACC.
• The Purple Eagles became the first MAAC team to beat an ACC team since Fairfield topped Boston College in December 2016.
