The Niagara Purple Eagles return to the Gallagher Center to face the Norfolk State Spartans on Saturday, December 10 at 3 p.m. as a part of men’s basketball alumni weekend.
The Purple Eagles return to the Gallagher Center for their third home game of the season and only home game in December. Seven of Niagara’s first nine games were on the road, including a recent four-game road trip. Niagara is 1-1 at home this season. NU was edged by Big 4 rival Buffalo in the season opener, and dominated Drexel, 93-74, on Nov. 23 to record its first win of the season.
Matt Scott is second in the MAAC in scoring and seventh in rebounding and assists. He leads the MAAC and is 25th in the nation in free throws made (52). Matt Scott recorded his seventh double-double, and first of the season, with 15 points and a team-high 10 rebounds at Marist on December 2. Kahlil Dukes is the only Purple Eagle to score in double figures in every game, including a career-high 23 points at North Texas. Kahlil Dukes is seventh in the nation in free-throw percentage (.962). Dominic Robb leads the MAAC and is 32nd in the nation with 2.2 blocks per game while also leading the MAAC and is 27th in the nation in total blocks (20). Freshman Shane Gatling is averaging 17 points per game, while shooting 55 percent from the field, 50 percent from the 3-point line and 85.7 percent from the free-throw line, in the last two games. Gatling set career-highs in points in consecutive games with 13 at Iona followed by 18 at Kent State. The Purple Eagles lead the MAAC in free throws made (158), blocks (41) and blocks per game (4.6).
The Spartans have dropped six straight games entering Saturday’s meeting. Redshirt Senior Wade Johnson leads the team in scoring at 20.1 per game Sophomore Alec Long was named MEAC Co-Defensive Player of the Week on December 5. The Spartans rank first in the MEAC in blocks per game (5.4), second in defensive rebound percentage (69.8) and third in scoring defense (72.1), field goal percentage defense (43.1), 3-point field goal percentage (36.1), opponent rebounding (35.9), rebound margin (-1.2) and defensive rebounds (24.9).
Niagara won the only meeting between the teams on December 29, 2009 in El Paso, Texas.
from PurpleEagles.com via IFTTT
