PURPLE EAGLES MEN'S BASKETBALL
GAME 24	Niagara Purple Eagles (7-16, 5-7 MAAC) vs. Canisius Golden Griffins
DATE | TIME	Wednesday, February 12 | 7 PM
LOCATION	Frank and Barbara Layden Court at the Gallagher Center – Niagara University
GAME NOTES	Niagara | Canisius
SERIES	Niagara Leads 106-81
STREAK	Niagara W2
BROADCAST	ESPN3 – Todd Callen/Richard Walsh
RADIO	WGR 550 AM – Pat Malacaro
TICKETS	TicketMaster | Tickets@Niagara.edu | 716-286-8499
LIVE STATS	PurpleEagles.com
TWITTER	@NiagaraMBB
INSTAGRAM	@NiagaraMBB

   
   The Niagara Purple Eagles return home to host longtime rival Canisius in the latest edition of the Battle of the Bridge series on Wednesday, February 12 at 7 p.m.
  •  The Purple Eagles have won five of the last six meetings with the Golden Griffins, which is their best run since winning five out of six from February 2010 to January 2013.
•  Niagara won both meetings last season to sweep the series for the second time in three campaigns.
•  NU raced out to a big first half lead, scoring 42 first half points, en route to a 78-70 win on January 30 at the Gallagher Center. NU scored the game-winning basket with 18 seconds remaining to edge Canisius, 86-84, on February 27 at the Koessler Athletic Center.
•  After winning three straight from January 12-19, the Purple Eagles have dropped five of their last six games entering Wednesday's contest.
•  NU won its most recent home game, a 75-59 victory over Quinnipiac, to improve to 5-3 at the Gallagher Center this season.
•  The Purple Eagles lead the MAAC in fewest turnovers per game (10.8), while the Golden Griffins lead the league in turnovers forced per game (16.1)
  •  The Purple Eagles lead the MAAC in turnover margin (3.9), turnovers per game (10.8), and fewest turnovers (248).  NU ranks 19th in the nation in fewest turnovers and 13th in turnovers per game.
•  Niagara is first in the MAAC in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.15) and had a positive assist-to-turnover ratio in 12 straight games from December 1 to January 19.
•  Marcus Hammond leads the Purple Eagles in scoring with a career-high 13.0 points per game and is averaging 15.3 points in league games which ranks fifth. He has scored in double figures 13 times, including a span of seven straight games from January 3-26.
•  Marcus Hammond scored a career-high 36 points to lead all scorers at Quinnipiac on January 10. Hammond's 36 points are the most by a Purple Eagle in two seasons and are tied for the most by a MAAC player this season.
•  Marcus Hammond is second in the MAAC in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.1).
•  NU is shooting a MAAC-leading 38.4 percent from 3-point range in conference games.
•  Nick MacDonald set a career-high in scoring with a game-high 18 points at Rider on February 9. MacDonald went 7 for 10 from the field and made a career-best four 3-pointers.
•  Greg Kuakumensah has scored in double figures in the last three games, including a team-high 13 points at Manhattan.
•  The Purple Eagles forced a season-high 20 turnovers and tied season-highs in field goals made (33) and in steals (13) against Quinnipiac on February 2. Niagara's three turnovers are the fewest since February 8, 2015 (Quinnipiac).
 
On The Court
Canisius Golden Griffins (9-14, 4-8 MAAC)
•  Canisius has lost four of its last five games entering Wednesday's contest.
•  The Golden Griffins lead the MAAC in assists per game (14.2 apg), turnovers forced (16.1), and defensive 3-point field goal percentage (.335). 
•  Two Golden Griffins, Malik Johnson (13.3 ppg) and Majesty Brandon (13.0 ppg), are averaging double figures scoring.
•  Malik Johnson ranks first in the MAAC in assists per game (6.1) and steals per game (2.2). His MAAC-leading 38 minutes per game are sixth most in the nation.
•  Jacco Fritz is second in the MAAC in field goal percentage (.692) in league games.
  
Against The Golden Griffins (Niagara Leads 106-81)
•  The Purple Eagles are 6-4 in the last 10 meetings with the Golden Griffins, but are 5-1 in the last six encounters.
•  NU is in search of consecutive home wins in the series for the first time since winning nine straight at the Gallagher Center from 2003-12.
•  Niagara is 10-5 in the last 15 meetings at the Gallagher Center.
 
Last Meeting - February 27, 2019
Niagara 86, Canisius 84
 
BUFFALO, N.Y. – Dominic Robb's go-ahead basket with 18 seconds remaining propelled the Purple Eagles to an 86-84 victory over the Canisius Golden Griffins on Wednesday night.
 

The Series	Niagara Leads 106-81
Last Game	February 27, 2019
	Niagara 86, Canisius 84
Last Niagara win	February 27, 2019
	Niagara 86, Canisius 84
Last Canisius win	February 21, 2018
	Canisius 95, Niagara 88
Last Niagara win at Home	January 30, 2019
	Niagara 78, Canisius 70
Last Canisius win at Niagara	Canisius 95, Niagara 88
	February 21, 2018
Current streak	Niagara W2