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Game 28
Niagara Purple Eagles (17-10, 10-4 MAAC) vs. Iona Gaels (16-11, 10-5 MAAC)
Friday, February 16 – 7 p.m.
Hynes Center – Iona College
Broadcast: ESPN3
Radio: WGR 550 AM – Todd Callen
 
The Niagara Purple Eagles, winners of five of their last six games, start their final conference road trip at Iona on February 16 at 7 p.m.
 
Scene Setter
•  Niagara sits in third place with a 10-4 MAAC record, two games behind Rider and Canisius for first place, with four conference games remaining.
•  The Purple Eagles are 10-2 in their last 12 games, including a five-season win streak from January 5-18, and have won three straight entering Friday's game. Niagara's 10-2 stretch is its best in five seasons.
•  Niagara's 17 wins through 27 games are the most since posting 21 wins through 27 games in the 2008-09 season.
•  The Purple Eagles are a MAAC-best 9-5 in all road games this season, including a 5-2 record in MAAC road games. The most MAAC road wins in a season for the Purple Eagles were seven during the 2000-01 season.
•  Niagara has scored 90 or more points in the last three games for the longest streak since doing the same feat in December 2004.
•  The Purple Eagles spoiled the Gaels' home opener last season when they left the Hynes Center with a 74-58 victory on December 4, 2016. Niagara will be looking for consecutive wins at Iona since winning three straight from December 2006 to February 2009.
 
Tipoff Tidbits
•  The Purple Eagles LEAD the MAAC in points per game (83.7), total blocks (120), blocks per game (4.4), and in fewest turnovers per game (11.2). Niagara LEADS the NCAA in free throws made (495).
•  Matt Scott is eighth on the all-time list with 1,709 points and is two points behind Chris Watson ('97) for seventh. Scott ranks 26th among active scorers in NCAA Division I.
•  Kahlil Dukes led all scorers with a career-high with 37 points at Monmouth on February 4. The 37 points are tied for the most in the MAAC this season and most by a Purple Eagle since Antoine Mason's 38 points against Marist on March 6, 2014.
•  Marvin Prochet LEADS the conference in rebounds per game (7.7) and in defensive rebounds per game (5.8). Prochet's eight 10-rebound games LEAD the MAAC along with teammate Matt Scott.
•  Kahlil Dukes LEADS the conference in free throw percentage (.919), in 3-point field goal percentage (.438), 3-pointers per game (3.0), and total 3-pointers made (81). Dukes is fourth in the NCAA in career active free throw percentage (.915).
• Kahlil Dukes' 18 20-point games LEAD the MAAC and are tied for seventh most in the NCAA.
•  Matt Scott's 18 career double-doubles LEAD all active MAAC players.
•  Kahlil Dukes has made 37 straight free throws to set the program's record in consecutive free throw breaking Calvin Murphy's record of 27 straight during the 1969-70 season.
 
On The Court
Iona Gaels (16-11, 10-5 MAAC)
•  The Gaels, who are 4-4 in their last eight games, are in fourth place in the MAAC.
•  Three Gaels are averaging double figures - Rickey McGill (13.7 ppg), E.J. Crawford (12.7 ppg), and Deyshonee Much (11.9 ppg).
•  Iona leads the MAAC in field goal percentage (.462), free throw percentage (.737), 3-pointers per game (9.9), total 3-pointers (267), and assist/turnover ratio (1.36).
   
Against the Gaels (Iona Leads 47-35)
•  Niagara snapped a seven-game losing streak to the Gaels when the Purple Eagles defeated Iona, 74-58, in the MAAC opener for both teams on December 4, 2016. It was Niagara's first win at Iona since the 2008-09 season.
•  Niagara was edged by Iona in overtime, 98-93, in the conference opener for both teams this season on December 29.
 
Last Meeting - December 29, 2017
Iona 98, Niagara 93 (overtime)
 
NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The Niagara Purple Eagles erased a 17-point second half deficit to force overtime before eventually falling to the Iona Gaels, 98-93, on Friday night in the MAAC opener for both teams.
 

The Series	Iona leads 47-35
Last Game	December 29, 2017
	Iona 98, Niagara 93 (OT)
Last Niagara win	December 4, 2016
	Niagara 74, Iona 58
Last Iona win	December 29, 2017
	Iona 98, Niagara 93 (OT)
Last Niagara win at Iona	December 4, 2016
	Niagara 74, Iona 58
Last Iona win at Home	January 4, 2016
	Iona 65, Niagara 52
Current Streak	Iona, W2

 
Road Warriors
•  Niagara has a MAAC-best 9-5 record on the road this season, including a 5-2 record in MAAC games.
•  The Purple Eagles' nine true road wins are tied for the fourth most in the nation and the most since the 2008-09 season (10).
•  Niagara's road percentage (.643) ranks 33rd in the nation. 
•  The Purple Eagles had a streak of six straight road wins from December 5 to January 18, which was tied for the fourth longest streak in the nation.