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The Niagara men's basketball team (11-13, 6-9 MAAC) takes on Canisius (8-18, 4-11 MAAC) Saturday, Feb. 19 at 1:00 p.m. at the Koessler Athletic Center to wrap up the annual Battle of the Bridge series.

Last Time Out
• Despite a second half comeback, the Purple Eagles fell to Marist, 77-70, on Feb. 14.
• Marcus Hammond led all scorers with 21 points. He went 6-for-6 from the free throw line and also grabbed six rebounds. 
• Julian Mackey added a career-high 16 points and went a career-best 6-for-11 from the field and 4-for-5 from 3-point range.
• Noah Thomasson added 13 points and Greg Kuakumensah scored 12. Sam Iorio brought down a team-high 10 rebounds.

Down Go The Gaels
• The Purple Eagles upset the Iona Gaels, 80-71, on Feb. 6, handing Rick Pitino's team its first MAAC loss of the season. 
• Marcus Hammond led all scorers with 26 points. He went 10-for-16 from the field and dished out a team-high six assists. His 10 made field goals are his season-high.
• Jordan Cintron brought down a team-best, and season-high, 12 rebounds.
• Noah Thomasson added 20 points and four assists. He shot 50 percent (7-for-14) from the field.
• Sam Iorio was just short of a double-double with 15 points and nine rebounds. 
• Niagara shot 50.9 percent from the field (29-for-57) and scored 44 points in the paint.
 
Player of the Week (x2)
•  Marcus Hammond has earned MAAC Player of the Week honors two times so far this season.
•  Hammond earned the first MAAC Player of the Week award of the season on Nov. 15 after his phenomenal week for the Purple Eagles against Xavier and No. 17 Ohio State. On the week, Hammond averaged 23.5 points per game, 6.0 rebounds per game and 2.0 assists per game. He shot 51.6 percent from the field and 42.1 percent from 3-point range.
•  Hammond earned his second MAAC Player of the Week award on Feb. 7, following an impressive weekend in NU's wins against Manhattan and Iona. On the weekend, Hammond averaged 23.0 points per game, 6.0 rebounds per game and 6.0 assists per game. He shot 57.1 percent from the field.

Get Your Brooms Out!
• The Purple Eagles swept their season series with Manhattan for the first time since the 2012-13 season.
• The Purple Eagles earned a comeback victory over Manhattan on Jan. 18, defeating the Jaspers, 72-63. It was NU's first win at Draddy Gymnasium since Feb. 17, 2013 when the Purple Eagles beat the Jaspers, 60-56.
• Four players scored in double figures; Noah Thomasson (20), Marcus Hammond (19), Jordan Cintron (13) and Sam Iorio (12). Noah Thomasson led NU in scoring with 20 points, just one short of his career-high. He shot 8-for-12 from the field and led NU in steals with four, which is his career-best.
• NU defeated the Jaspers in overtime, 80-74, at the Gallagher Center on Feb. 4. Hammond (20), Thomasson (20), Iorio (17) and Cintron (13) all scored in double figures again.
 
Welcome to the 1,000 Point Club!
•  Marcus Hammond reached 1,000 career points at Colgate on Nov. 29. Hammond needed three points entering the game and scored five quick points, earning his 1,000th point on a 3-pointer.
•  Sam Iorio surpassed 1,000 career points against St. Thomas on Nov. 20. Iorio entered the game needing 11 points to reach the milestone. He scored 15 points, earning his 1,000th point on a free throw.
 
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