The Niagara Purple Eagles continue their MAAC opening weekend against the Iona Gaels on Sunday at 4 p.m.
Niagara is in the midst of a four-game road swing which started with a defeat at North Texas on November 25. The Purple Eagles opened their MAAC schedule with a narrow 72-66 defeat at Marist on Friday. Seven of Niagara’s first nine games are on the road, including this weekend’s MAAC opening weekend against Marist and Iona. NU is in search of its first road win since beating Marist on Jan. 18, 2016. Sunday’s game features the MAAC top two teams in 3-point percentage in the MAAC with Iona shooting 36.8 percent and Niagara shooting 36.5 percent.
The Purple Eagles picked up their first win of the season with a resounding 93-74 victory over Drexel on Nov. 23. Matt Scott recorded his seventh double-double, and first of the season, with 15 points and a team-high 10 rebounds at Marist on Friday. Kahlil Dukes is the only Purple Eagle to score in double figures in every game, including a career-high 23 points at North Texas. In the last three games, Dukes is averaging a team-best 20 points on 54.3 percent (19-for-35) from the field, 61.5 percent (8-for-13) from 3-pointers and 14-for-14 at the free throw line. Dominic Robb leads the MAAC and is 23rd in the nation with 2.7 blocks per game while also leading the MAAC and is 21st in the nation in total blocks (19). Robb has had at least two blocks in each game.
Kahlil Dukes is one of 14 players in the nation to be perfect at the free throw line (minimum 40% minutes played and 2 shots per game to qualify). Dukes is 20-for-20 at the charity stripe which is THIRD in the nation. The school record for consecutive free throws made is held by Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Calvin Murphy who made 27 straight during the 1969-70 season.
Matt Scott leads Niagara in points per game (19.3), assists per game (4.0), steals per game (1.3), and free throws made per game (6.6). Matt Scott is the only player to be ranked in the MAAC top-10 in points, rebounds, assists and steals.
from PurpleEagles.com via IFTTT
