NIAGARA UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. — The Niagara Purple Eagles start a two-game road swing in Pennsylvania against the Saint Francis Red Flash on Friday, November 30 at 7 p.m.
Scene Setter
• After winning two of their first three games for their best start in nine seasons, the Purple Eagles have dropped their last two contests.
• Niagara was defeated by Grambling State and Saint Francis Brooklyn last weekend as part of the Fort Myers Tip-Off Niagara Regional at the Gallagher Center.
• The Purple Eagles are back on the road for a pair of games in the Keystone State. The Purple Eagles, who won a MAAC-leading 10 true road games to tie a school record in the modern-era last season, have split their first two road games this season.
Tipoff Tidbits
• Marvin Prochet and Dominic Robb rank first in a combined eight categories amongst MAAC competitors. Prochet is the MAAC leader in points per game (20.0), rebounds per game (11.3), defensive rebounds per game (7.7), offensive rebounds per game (3.5), total rebounds (45) and in double-doubles (4). Robb is first in blocks per game (4.2) and total blocks (21).
• Dominic Robb LEADS the nation in blocks per game (4.2) and is fifth in total blocks (21).
• Marvin Prochet is ninth in the nation in double-doubles and in rebounds per game.
• Marvin Prochet notched his fourth straight double-double after posting game-highs in points (23) and in rebounds (12), which both tied season-high marks, in the defeat to Grambling State on November 23. The four straight double-doubles are the longest streak by a Purple Eagle since Benson Egemonye had four straight during the 2008-09 season. Prochet has 13 career double-doubles, including 16 career 10-rebound games.
• Marvin Prochet is 35 points away from becoming the 47th member of the 1,000 point club.
• Dominic Robb established a new career-high in blocks with eight, including seven in the first half, which are tied for the second most blocks in a game in program history. The eight blocks are also tied for third most in the nation this season. Robb has three of the top-8 most blocks in a game in Niagara history.
• Dominic Robb is tied for third on the career blocks list with 177.
• Dominic Robb has increased his points total in each game this season, including a season-high 17 points in his last game versus Saint Francis Brooklyn.
• Dominic Robb was named to the Fort Myers Tip-Off All-Tournament Team after averaging 16 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.0 blocks and 2.0 steals in two games.
• Greg Kuakumensah scored 10 points and grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds for his first career double-double while playing in a career-high 25 minutes against Saint Francis Brooklyn.
• Niagara is first in the conference in blocks (26), blocks per game (5.2), and in free throw percentage (.779), while placing second in fewest total turnovers (53), turnovers per game (10.6), rebounds (193) and rebounds per game (38.6).
• The Purple Eagles rank 13th in fewest turnovers and 18th in free throw percentage nationally.
On The Court
Saint Francis Red Flash (2-4, 0-0 NEC)
• St. Francis is coming off an 18-13 (12-6 NEC) campaign last season, earning a postseason berth in the CIT before falling to Illinois-Chicago in the opening game.
• For the second consecutive season, St. Francis was selected first in the NEC Preseason Coaches’ Poll.
• The team returns all five starters from last season and 92% of its scoring from the 2017-18 season.
• Keith Braxton and Jamaal King were two of the five selections on the Preseason All-NEC Team. Braxton leads the team in scoring (13.7 ppg) and in rebounds per game (8.8 rpg). King is second on the team in scoring at 12.8 points per game.
• Two other members of the Red Flash are averaging double figures scoring – freshman Myles Thompson (11.3 ppg) and senior Andre Wolford (10.4 ppg).
• The Red Flash have played three teams currently ranked in the Top 25 rankings – Buffalo, North Carolina and Virginia Tech. The team also faced off with UCLA when the Bruins were ranked No. 20 in the country on Nov. 16.
Against The Red Flash (Niagara leads 13-12)
• The Purple Eagles hold a narrow series advantage which dates back to the 1940s.
• Niagara had its four-game win streak in the series snapped in an overtime defeat to the Red Flash last season.
• The teams have only played six times since 1989.
