BUFFALO — The Niagara Purple Eagles will play longtime rival the St. Bonaventure Bonnies as part of the Big 4 Classic Doubleheader at 1 p.m. Saturday from the KeyBank Center.
The Niagara/St. Bonaventure series dates back to the 1920-21 season. NU trails in the all-time series, 87-69, but has won eight of the last 13 meetings. The teams will play on a neutral court for only the fourth time in the 156 previous meetings between the programs and the third time since 2012. The Purple Eagles are 30-21 in their last 51 Big 4 matchups, but are looking to snap a five-game skid against Big 4 opponents. The Purple Eagles are 13-12 all-time at the KeyBank Center (formerly known as the First Niagara Center) including playing the Bonnies twice. NU fell 70-61 on Dec. 12, 1998 and lost 74-59 on Nov. 29, 2014 as part of the most recent Big 4 Classic Doubleheader.
Two Purple Eagles rank in the MAAC top-10 in scoring; Matt Scott is fifth with 17.7 points per game and Kahlil Dukes is ninth with 16.1 points per game. 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 leads the MAAC and is third in the nation in free-throw percentage (.971). Dukes has made 13 straight free throws entering Saturday’s game. Dominic Robb leads the MAAC and is 39th in the nation with 2.1 blocks per game while also leading the MAAC and is 27th in the nation in total blocks (24). Shane Gatling is averaging 15.0 ppg in the last four games, including a career-high 24 points to lead Niagara at Youngstown State on December 14. Niagara leads the MAAC in blocked shots per game (4.5) free throws made (190), and free throw attempts (248), and is second in free throw shooting (.766).
This marks the fifth time all four Western New York schools will play in a doubleheader format. The first Big 4 basketball doubleheader was played in downtown Buffalo on Nov. 30, 1996. The four Western New York programs also played in a doubleheader format on Nov. 29, 1997, Dec. 12, 1998 and Nov. 29, 2014.
All four schools will be wearing special “throwback” uniforms, presented by ComDoc and Lawley Insurance. After a fan vote, the Purple Eagles will wear uniforms donned during periods of the 1970s and early 1980s.
St. Bonaventure had its five-game winning streak snapped by UNC Wilmington, 81-80, in its last game. Three Bonnies are averaging double figures scoring; Preseason Big 4 Player of the Year, and one of the top 50 candidates for the John Wooden Award, Jaylen Adams (22.8 ppg), Matt Mobley (20.6 ppg) and Preseason Big 4 Second Team member Denzel Gregg (11.6). St. Bonaventure is the top scoring offense in the Atlantic 10 and is 34th in the nation, averaging 82.9 points per game. The Bonnies are second in the A-10 in scoring margin (+8.3), 3-point field goal percentage (.374) and blocks per game (5.2).
Niagara and Bona have both played local rival Buffalo this season. The Bonnies defeated the Bulls, 90-84, on December 3, while Niagara fell to UB in the season opener.
The Purple Eagles won eight straight games in the series before falling at home on Dec. 30, 2011. NU has dropped the last five meetings. Five of the last seven meetings have been decided by less than 10 points.
from PurpleEagles.com via IFTTT
