The No. 9 seed Purple Eagles will play the No. 1 seed Monmouth Hawks in the 2017 MAAC Tournament Quarterfinals on at 7 p.m.
The Niagara Purples dropped both meetings to the Monmouth Hawks this season and are in search of their first win over the Hawks since Monmouth joined the MAAC for the 2013-14 season. NU had a chance to trim Monmouth’s lead to two points twice in the final 20 seconds before falling 90-83 in the first meeting of the season on January 14 at the Gallagher Center. Niagara connected on a season-high 15 3-pointers for the most 3-pointers since making 16 at Oregon State to open the 2012-13 season. Monmouth clinched its second consecutive regular-season title when the Hawks defeated Niagara on February 16. Kahlil Dukes averaged 23.5 points in the two meetings against Monmouth, scoring at least 20 points in both games. Dukes connected on a career-best 7 3-pointers on January 14 which are tied for fourth most in program history. This will be the first meeting between the programs in the MAAC Tournament. The winner will face the winner of No. 4 Siena/No. 5 Fairfield in the MAAC Semifinals on Sunday at 4:30 p.m.
The Purple Eagles advanced to the MAAC Tournament Quarterfinals with an 88-69 victory over eight-seeded Quinnipiac in the first round on Friday. Niagara used a 59-point second half explosion en route to its first MAAC Tournament win since 2014. Matt Scott earned All-MAAC Third Team selection for the second consecutive season. Scott is the first Purple Eagle named to an All-MAAC team in consecutive seasons since Antoine Mason (2012-14). Scott was also named to the HoopsHD’s All-MAAC team. Dominic Robb leads the MAAC and is 30th in the nation in blocks per game (2.2) and is first in the MAAC and is 22nd in the nation in total blocks (71). Robb set the sophomore single-season record, which was held by Joe Arlauckas who had 66 during the 1984-85 season. Robb has also passed Arlauckas for second place on the single-season list and is ONE behind the single-season record holder Mark Henry. Kahlil Dukes is FIFTH in the nation in free-throw percentage (.921). Dukes, who has had streaks of 20 and 17 consecutive made free throws, had a career-high 12 free throws at Quinnipiac on February 4. Dukes is on the verge of setting the single-season program record in free throw percentage which is currently held by Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Calvin Murphy who shot 88.1 percent at the line during the 1969-70 season. Niagara leads the MAAC and is 47th in the nation in blocked shots per game (4.6) and leads the MAAC and is 31st in the nation in total blocks (148).
The Monmouth Hawks are the No. 1 seed in the MAAC Tournament for the second consecutive season after claiming the regular-season title. Monmouth is the first MAAC program to win 18 conference games in league history. The Hawks are on a program-best 16-game winning streak which is the second longest in the nation. Justin Robinson and Micah Seaborn were named to the 2016-17 All-MAAC First Team. Three Hawks are averaging double figures scoring – Justin Robinson (19.7 ppg), Micah Seaborn (13.5 ppg) and Je’lon Hornbeak (11.9 ppg). Monmouth leads the conference in scoring (80.9 ppg), scoring margin (+7.9), defensive rebounds per game (27.6) and field goal percentage defense (.405).
The first meeting between the two programs was during the 2008-09 season, which Niagara won 71-48 in the Philly Hoop Group Classic in Philadelphia. The Purple Eagles have lost all eight meetings since the Hawks joined the MAAC at the start of the 2013-14 season.
from PurpleEagles.com via IFTTT
