The Niagara Purple Eagles are back on the road for a pair of games this week, beginning on Thursday, January 17 against Siena at 7 p.m.
Scene Setter
• Niagara split a pair of games last week to open its conference home schedule.
• The Purple Eagles earned their first conference win of the season with a 95-90 victory over the three-time defending MAAC champions Iona Gaels on January 11 to snap a three-game losing streak. Niagara set season-highs in points (95), rebounds (51), field goals made (36) and in 3-pointers made (13).
• Niagara is in search of its first conference road win of the season after falling at Manhattan and Fairfield.
• Last season, Niagara led the MAAC in road wins with 10, including six in league play. This season, the Purple Eagles have road wins at Pitt, Wyoming, and Army.
• Niagara defeated Siena, 84-76, on January 5, 2018 in the lone meeting last season for the Purple Eagles' first regular season win at Siena since January 2013.
Tipoff Tidbits
•
Marvin Prochet, who led the MAAC in rebounds last season, is averaging a conference-leading 8.2 boards per contest. He is averaging a career-high 16.9 points per game which are fifth in the MAAC. He is shooting a career-high 43.5 percent from the 3-point line which is second in the league and a career-high 43.5 percent from the field.
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Dominic Robb leads the MAAC in total blocks (48) and blocks per game (2.8) while ranking fifth and ninth, respectively, in those categories nationally.
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James Towns sits atop of the MAAC in free throw percentage with a career-high 83.5 percent. Towns is also averaging career-high numbers in assists per game (4.5) and in assist/turnover ratio (1.5) which are third and fourth best in the MAAC, respectively.
•
Dominic Robb is 16 blocks away from tying Joe Arlauckas ('87) who finished his career with 220 blocks, for first place.
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James Towns picked up his first career double-double with 15 points and a career-high 10 assists against Norfolk State. He was three rebounds shy of a triple-double.
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Marvin Prochet collected his MAAC-leading seventh double-double with a team-high 20 points and 10 rebounds against Iona on January 11. Prochet has seven double-doubles in 14 games.
• Niagara leads the MAAC in free throw percentage (.749), rebounds per game (38.1), and in defensive rebounds per game (26.9) while placing second in blocks per game (4.1) and turnovers per game (12.1).
•
Marcus Hammond and
James Towns rank first and fifth, respectively, in free throw percentage in conference games.
On The Court
Siena Saints (6-11, 1-3 MAAC)
• The Saints, who were picked 11th in the MAAC Preseason Poll, are 1-3 in MAAC play.
• Evan Fisher (16.8 ppg) and Jalen Pickett (14.7) are averaging double figures scoring.
• Siena ranks in the top-10 in the nation in fewest fouls and in fewest turnovers.
• Jalen Pickett, who leads the MAAC in assists per game, has been named MAAC Rookie of the Week five times this season including in the last three weeks.
• According to KenPom.com, Siena's average offense possession length ranks last in the nation.
Against the Saints (Siena Leads 51-48)
• Niagara has won two of the last three meetings after losing seven straight.
• The Purple Eagles have won four of their last 15 regular season meetings at Siena
• The Purple Eagles are looking to beat the Saints in the Times Union Center in consecutive seasons since the 2003-04 and 2004-05 seasons.
Last Meeting - January 5, 2018
Niagara 84, Siena 76
ALBANY, N.Y. – The Niagara Purple Eagles earned their first MAAC win of the season with an 84-76 victory at the Siena Saints on Friday night.
| The Series |
Siena Leads 51-48 |
| Last Game |
January 5, 2018 |
|
Niagara 84, Siena 76 |
| Last Niagara Win |
January 5, 2018 |
|
Niagara 84, Siena 76 |
| Last Siena Win |
February 18, 2017 |
|
Siena 76, Niagara 70 |
| Last Niagara Win at Siena |
January 5, 2018 |
|
Niagara 84, Siena 76 |
| Last Siena Win at Home |
February 18, 2017 |
|
Siena 76, Niagara 70 |
| Current Streak |
Niagara, W1 |
