The Niagara Purple Eagles continue their two-game home stint by hosting the Siena Saints on Wednesday, January 4 at 7 p.m.
The Purple Eagles opened 2017 at home on Monday where they fell to the Quinnipiac Bobcats, 81-78, in a game which they led for the majority of. Niagara split its MAAC opening weekend in December. After losing a close contest at Marist, the Purple Eagles handed defending MAAC champion Iona a rare home defeat for the Purple Eagles’ first win in the series since January 2013. The series with the Saints has been one of streaks recently. The Purple Eagles won four straight from 2011-13, but have lost the last seven meetings. NU is 5-3 in the last eight home meetings, but have dropped the last three encounters at the Gallagher Center. Wednesday’s meeting will feature the MAAC’s top two leaders in blocks in Dominic Robb and Siena’s Javion Ogunyemi (1.64).
Two Purple Eagles rank in the MAAC top-10 in scoring; Matt Scott is tied for eighth with 16.2 points per game and Kahlil Dukes is ninth with 15.6 points per game. Kahlil Dukes leads the MAAC and is FOURTH in the nation in free-throw percentage (.955). Dominic Robb leads the MAAC and is 24th in the nation with 2.36 blocks per game while also leading the MAAC and is 26th in the nation in total blocks (33). Matt Scott leads Niagara in scoring (16.2 ppg), rebounds (6.9 rpg) and steals (1.1 spg). Chris Barton has scored at least eight points in the last six games while shooting over 64 percent from the field, 90 percent from 3’s and 87.5 percent from the free-throw line. Barton shared team-high honors in scoring with a season-high 15 points while trying a career-high with four 3-pointers against Quinnipiac. Niagara made a season-high 12 3-pointers against Quinnipiac on January 2. Chris Barton and Shane Gatling each made four, Marvin Prochet had three and Kahlil Dukes had one. The 12 triples are the most since hitting 12 3-pointers in a double overtime win against Quinnipiac on Feb. 1, 2015 and the most in regulation since draining 12 against Northwestern State on February 23, 2013. Niagara leads the MAAC in blocked shots per game (4.9) and total blocks (69), and is second in free throws made (230), free throw shooting percentage (.754) and 3-point field goal percentage (.366).
Siena is 1-5 in its last six games, including dropping its last three games (Hofstra, Vermont, Canisius). Siena is 0-9 on the road this season including loses to MAAC opponents Rider and Canisius. The Saints starting lineup is averaging double figures scoring – Nico Clareth (15.3 ppg), Marquis Wright (14.7 ppg), Javion Ogunyemi (13.5 ppg), Lavon Long (11.5), and Brett Bisping (11.1 ppg). Marquis Wright is second in the MAAC in assist/turnover ratio (2.65) and third in assists per game (4.9). Brett Bisping leads the MAAC in total rebounds (134) and second in rebounds per game (9.6), while his four double-doubles are third in the conference.
After winning six of eight in the series, including four straight, Niagara has lost the last seven meetings to the Saints. The Purple Eagles are looking for their first win in the series since defeating Siena in the 2013 MAAC Tournament First Round.
from PurpleEagles.com via IFTTT
