The Niagara Purple Eagles start their road weekend with a matchup with the Manhattan Jaspers on Friday, February 7 at 7 p.m. on ESPNU as part of the MAAC Wildcard Game package.
Scene Setter
• Niagara snapped a three game skid with a dominating win over the Quinnipiac Bobcats on February 2 to split the season series.
• NU forced a season-high 20 turnovers, while only committing three and dishing out 17 assists en route to a 16-point win.
• Niagara and Manhattan met on January 5 in the Gallagher Center. The outcome of the contest was decided in the final minute for the second straight meeting between the programs. NU lost 67-62.
• The Purple Eagles are looking to halt a four-game losing streak in the series while earning their first win at Manhattan since January 2013.
Tipoff Tidbits
•
James Towns became the 49th member of the 1,000 Point Club on January 31 against Marist. Towns scored his 1,000th career point at the free-throw line.
• The Purple Eagles lead all MAAC teams in turnover margin (3.9), turnovers per game (10.6), and fewest turnovers (222). NU ranks fifth in the nation in fewest turnovers and 10th in turnovers per game.
• Niagara is first in the MAAC in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.19) and had a positive assist-to-turnover ratio in 12 straight games from December 1 to January 19.
•
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 leads the Purple Eagles in scoring with a career-high 13.5 points per game and is averaging 16.8 points in league games which rank third. He has scored in double figures 13 times, including a span of seven straight games from January 3-26.
•
Marcus Hammond is second in the MAAC in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.2).
• NU is shooting a MAAC-leading 41.5 percent from 3-point range in conference games.
•
Marcus Hammond recorded his first career double-double with a team-high 21 points and a career-high 10 rebounds at Monmouth. Hammond joins
Raheem Solomon and
Greg Kuakumensah, who has three double-doubles, as Purple Eagles with a double-double this season.
• 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
Manhattan Jaspers (9-10, 5-5 MAAC)
• The Jaspers stopped a four-game losing streak with a 72-49 win versus Iona on February 2.
• Tykei Greene leads the Jaspers in scoring at 10.4 points per game.
• Pauly Paulicap leads the team in rebounds (6.4) and is second in the MAAC in blocks per game (1.6).
• Christian Hinckson is second in the MAAC in steals per game (1.8).
• Manhattan leads the MAAC in defensive field goal percentage (.396) and is second in the league in scoring defense (64.3). The Jaspers are tied for first with 4.1 blocks per game in league games.
Against The Jaspers (Manhattan Leads 55-33)
• The Jaspers have won seven of the last eight games in the series dating back to January 17, 2016.
• The Purple Eagles are in search of their first win at Manhattan in seven seasons.
• Nine of the last 10 matchups have been decided by 10 points or less.
Last Meeting - January 5, 2020
Manhattan 67, Niagara 62
NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The Purple Eagles were edged by the Manhattan Jaspers, 67-62, on Sunday afternoon to split their conference opening weekend.
| The Series |
Manhattan Leads 55-33 |
| Last Game |
January 5, 2020 |
|
Manhattan 67, Niagara 62 |
| Last Niagara win |
January 24, 2018 |
|
Niagara 72, Manhattan 63 |
| Last Manhattan win |
January 5, 2020 |
|
Manhattan 67, Niagara 62 |
| Last Niagara win at Manhattan |
February 17, 2013 |
|
Niagara 60, Manhattan 56 |
| Last Manhattan win at Home |
January 5, 2019 |
|
Manhattan 90, Niagara 80 |
| Current Streak |
Manhattan W4 |
