The Niagara Purple Eagles continue their two-game road swing against the Manhattan Jaspers on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
NU started its two-game road trip with an 89-78 defeat at Rider on Tuesday. Four Purple Eagles had game-high totals – Matt Scott (22 points), Marvin Prochet (nine rebounds), Kahlil Dukes (six assists), and Dominic Robb (four blocks). The Purple Eagles opened 2017 at home on January 2 where they fell to the Quinnipiac Bobcats, 81-78, in a game which they led for the majority of. NU rebounded in its next game with a 71-66 victory over the Siena Saints for its first win in the series in eight attempts. Niagara and Manhattan have split the series in the last two seasons with both teams protecting their home court. Tuesday’s game features two of the nation’s best free throw shooters in Kahlil Dukes (.941) and Zavier Turner (.920). The Purple Eagles, who are 2-2 in their last four games, have alternated wins/losses in the last five games.
Two Purple Eagles rank in the MAAC top-10 in scoring; Matt Scott is sixth with 16.9 points per game and Kahlil Dukes is 10th with 15.8 points per game. Kahlil Dukes leads the MAAC and is THIRD in the nation in free-throw percentage (.941). Dominic Robb leads the MAAC and is 28th in the nation with 2.38 blocks per game while also leading the MAAC and is 26th in the nation in total blocks (38). Matt Scott leads Niagara in scoring (16.9 ppg), rebounds (6.9 rpg) and steals (1.2 spg).
A pair of Purple Eagles had 20-point games in the win over Siena on January 2 with Matt Scott and Kahlil Dukes each pouring in 22 points. This was the second time this season two Purple Eagles scored 20-plus points (Shane Gatling and Dukes at Youngstown State). 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 (5.1), total blocks (81), and in free throws made (249), and is second in free throw shooting percentage (.754).
from PurpleEagles.com via IFTTT
