FAIRFIELD, Conn. — The Niagara University Purple Eagles head to Connecticut to take on the Fairfield Stags at 8 p.m. Thursday at Webster Bank Arena.
The Purple Eagles have won three of their last four games. NU scored the last six points to rally in the final minute to defeat Saint Peter’s, 57-55, on Jan. 21. Niagara, then, started its three-game homestand with a 91-84 victory over Canisius on Jan. 23. After having their two-game win streak halted with a last-second loss to Manhattan, the Purple Eagles bounced back into the win column in their next game. Niagara closed the final 5:21 with a 24-9 run to pull away for an 80-67 victory over the Rider Broncs on January 28. Niagara and Fairfield will meet for the first time this season, as the teams will bookend meetings in February. NU has won three of the last four visits to Fairfield.
Matt Scot was named MAAC Player of the Week on January 30 after averaging 18.7 points per game, 9.7 rebounds per game and 3.0 assists per game as NU went 2-1 last week. Kahlil Dukes is FIRST in the nation in free-throw percentage (.942). Dukes has made his last 16 free throw attempts. Dominic Robb leads the MAAC and is 18th in the nation in blocks per game (2.48) and is first in the MAAC and 12th in the nation in total blocks (57). Robb is seventh on the single-season blocks list. After scoring a total of 17 points in 11 games, Kevin Larkin has scored 38 points in the last three games. Larkin has scored in double figures in each game, including netting a season-high 16 points versus Canisius on Jan. 23. Kahlil Dukes has had at least five assists in five straight games, including tying a career-high nine assists against Canisius. Matt Scott registered his 10th 20-point game of the season when he led all scorers with 20 points against Manhattan on January 26. His 10 20-point games are second in the MAAC. Niagara scored 51 first half points against Canisius on January 23 which is its highest first half point total since scoring 51 against Marist on Jan. 3, 2013.
The Purple Eagles shot 53.2 percent (33-for-62) from the field for the team’s second highest field goal percentage this season. Matt Scott recorded his fourth double-double of the season with 18 points while leading the game with 11 rebounds in the win versus Rider on January 28. His 10 career double-doubles are fourth most in program history since the 2006-07 season. Niagara’s 15 3-pointers against Monmouth on January 14 are the most since draining 16 3-pointers at Oregon State to open the 2012-13 season. The 15 3-pointers are tied for third most in program history and are tied for the second most in the MAAC this season. Niagara leads the MAAC in blocked shots per game (5.3) and total blocks (122), and is second in 3-point field goal percentage (.387) and in free throw percentage (.758). Niagara’s 3-1 mark in its last four games is behind only Monmouth and Iona, who have an eight and five-game winning streak, respectively.
After losing five straight, the Stags have won their last two games (Marist, Manhattan) to start a four-game homestand. Three members of the Stags starting lineup are averaging double figures scoring – Tyler Nelson (19.2 ppg), Curtis Cobb (14.7 ppg) and Jerry Johnson (11.1 ppg). Fairfield is second in the MAAC in 3-point field goal percentage defense (.324), and defensive rebounds per game (27.1). Tyler Nelson’s 19.2 points per game and 36.6 minutes per game are first in the conference, while Amadou Sidibe’s 10.2 rebounds per game are also leading the MAAC.
Niagara has won three of the last four meetings at Fairfield. Nine of the last 10 meetings have been decided by less than eight points. The series has alternated sweeps in the last two seasons with Fairfield winning both meetings last season and Niagara winning both meetings during the 2014-15 season.
from PurpleEagles.com via IFTTT
