NIAGARA UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
The Niagara Purple Eagles open their 2018 and conference road schedule on Friday, January 5 against the Siena Saints at 7 p.m.
Scene Setter
• After winning three straight before starting conference play, the Purple Eagles have dropped their last two games.
• Niagara finished December with a 4-3 record for its best December record since 2009 (5-2).
• The Purple Eagles are 11-17 all-time in MAAC road openers and looking for their first conference road-opening win since the 2014-15 season.
• In two meetings versus Siena last season, Kahlil Dukes averaged 22.5 points per game while being the top scorer in both games. Matt Scott has averaged 23 points and 5.3 rebounds in the last three meetings with Siena.
Tipoff Tidbits
• Marvin Prochet is averaging a double-double in MAAC games sixth in scoring and first rebounds. He ranks at the top in blocks per game (1.5) and defensive rebounds per game (8.5).
• Matt Scott is the first Purple Eagle with three straight double-doubles (Cleveland State, Cornell, Iona) since Bilal Benn in February 2010. His 15 career double-doubles are tied for second most in the program since the 2006-07 season.
• James Towns is 11-for-11 at the free-throw line in conference games, which is tied for first in the league in free throw percentage. Towns has made 17 straight free throws.
• Matt Scott, who leads the MAAC in scoring (22.4), had his streak of double-digit scoring this season snapped in Niagara’s last game.
• Kahlil Dukes is FIRST in the conference in free throw percentage (.908) and is THIRD in the NCAA in career active free throw percentage (.910).
• Kahlil Dukes’ career-high eight 3-pointers at New Hampshire are the tied for most in the MAAC and tied for eighth most in the NCAA this season.
• Marvin Prochet has averaged 15.6 points and 9.6 rebounds in the last five games, including his consecutive double-doubles (Cornell and Iona) and a season-high 21 points against Rider. Prochet leads the conference in rebounds per game (8.3).
It Takes Two
• Matt Scott (22.4) and Kahlil Dukes (21.2) are the second leading scoring pair in the nation. Scott and Dukes are first and second, respectively, in scoring in the MAAC. The duo is accounting for 55 percent of Niagara’s scoring.
• The duo is the only pair in the NCAA to have 11 20-point games this season, which is tied for third in the NCAA.
• The tandem has scored 20-plus points in the same game eight times this season.
• The pair ranks atop of the MAAC in total field goals made.
On The Court
Siena Saints (4-11, 0-2 MAAC)
• Siena was picked sixth in the 2017-18 MAAC Preseason Poll.
• Junior guard Nico Clareth, who was named to the Preseason All-MAAC Second Team, leads the Saints in scoring with 15.1 points per game.
• Freshman guard Roman Penn is also averaging double figures with 10.4 points per game.
• The Saints have dropped two of their last three games, including two straight to open MAAC play.
Against the Saints (Siena leads 51-47)
• Niagara snapped a seven-game losing streak in the series with a 71-66 victory on January 4, 2017 as the Purple Eagles split the season series.
• The Purple Eagles are in search of their first win at Siena since the 2012-13 season and have won just three of their last 14 regular season trips to Siena.
