NIAGARA UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. — The Niagara University men’s basketball program has released its 13-game non-conference schedule for the 2018-19 season.
“The non-conference schedule is challenging and includes games against the ACC, a Final Four team, and our own Thanksgiving tournament,” head coach Chris Casey said. “There are a good number of games at the Gallagher Center, so our fans will have many opportunities to see us play before MAAC play begins.”
The Purple Eagles’ first two games of the season will be against two teams who made headlines during the 2018 NCAA Tournament. Niagara starts the season hosting Little 3 rival St. Bonaventure on Monday, Nov. 12. The Purple Eagles opened last season’s campaign with a victory at St. Bonaventure.
Niagara will then play at 2018 Final Four participant Loyola Chicago on November 14 as part of the inaugural Fort Myers Tip-Off. The Purple Eagles will play at Wyoming (Nov. 16) as part of the event before hosting their portion of the tournament on Nov. 23-24 when they welcome Grambling State, St. Francis Brooklyn, and IUPUI to the Gallagher Center. On Nov. 23, NU will play Grambling State and St. Francis Brooklyn will play IUPUI. Niagara will play either St. Francis Brooklyn or IUPUI on Saturday.
The Purple Eagles will go on a two-game road swing in the state of Pennsylvania where they will face St. Francis (Pa.) on Nov. 30 and Pitt on Dec. 3. Niagara returns to the Gallagher Center to host New Hampshire (Dec. 9) and Cornell (Dec. 16). Two more road contests follow with meetings with Cleveland State on Dec. 19 and against Army on Dec. 22.
Niagara wraps up its non-conference schedule hosting Norfolk State (Dec. 29) and Albany as part of a doubleheader with the women’s basketball team on New Year’s Eve.
The Purple Eagles return nine letter winners from last season’s team that went 19-14, including earning a No. 3 seed in the MAAC Tournament with a 12-6 conference record, and received a bid to play in the CIT. Niagara will be led by a senior core of Marvin Prochet (10.3 ppg, 7.9 rpg), Dominic Robb (7.0 ppg, 1.4 bpg), Chris Barton(5.0 ppg), and Greg King (4.6 ppg, 5.6 rpg).
For ticket information, contact the Niagara Athletic Ticket Office at 716-286 TIXX, tickets@Niagara.edu or www.PurpleEagles.com/Tickets.
Non-Conference Notes
Niagara snapped a six-game losing streak to St. Bonaventure with a 77-75 victory to open last season’s schedule…NU lost its only meeting with Loyola Chicago in 1937…The Purple Eagles fell in their only previous meeting with the Cowboys during the 1961-62 season…NU and Grambling will play for the first time…Niagara leads the all-time series with St. Francis (N.Y.) 15-4…The Purple Eagles have never played IUPUI…Niagara had its four-game win streak against St. Francis (Pa.) snapped in last season’s overtime defeat at the Gallagher Center…NU and Pitt will meet for the second time in the last four seasons…The Purple Eagles have won 11 of the last 12 meetings against New Hampshire, including last season’s 78-70 win…Niagara held off Cornell in the final seconds last season in the first meeting between the programs since January 1992…The home team in the series with Cleveland State is unbeaten (seven games) including the Purple Eagles’ 79-77 victory last season…Niagara defeated Army last season and now leads the all-time series, 8-7…The Purple Eagles defeated Norfolk State on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer last season to improve to 3-0 all-time in the series…Niagara leads the series with Albany, 3-2, including 2-0 at home.
