Manhattan @ Niagara : ESPN+

[le]

VEGAS: Spread: Niagara -6 (-105), Manhattan +6 (-115)

CBS SPORTS:

Manhattan @ Niagara

Current Records: Manhattan 6-12; Niagara 10-9

What to Know
The Niagara Purple Eagles will be returning home after a two-game road trip. Niagara and the Manhattan Jaspers will face off in an MAAC battle at 7 p.m. ET on Friday at Gallagher Center. The Purple Eagles will be strutting in after a win while Manhattan will be stumbling in from a loss.

It was a close one, but on Sunday Niagara sidestepped the St. Peter's Peacocks for a 59-57 victory.

Speaking of close games: it was close but no cigar for Manhattan as they fell 67-65 to the Rider Broncs on Sunday.

Niagara's win brought them up to 10-9 while the Jaspers' defeat pulled them down to 6-12. Two stats to keep an eye on: The Purple Eagles are stumbling into the game with the 16th fewest takeaways in college basketball, having accrued only 10.9 on average. Manhattan has experienced some struggles of their own as they are 32nd worst in college basketball in turnovers per game, with 14.7 on average. It's possible one of these Achilles' heels will wind up tripping the losing team up.


Article on Manhattan Hoops:

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/22/spor ... tball.html

NU Game Notes:

Niagara ended its four-game losing streak last Sunday with a 59-57 win at Saint Peter’s. Senior Noah Thomasson scored the game-winning basket with nine seconds remaining.
» This week is Coaches vs. Caner Week across College Basketball and Niagara and Manhattan coaching staffs will sport Suits and Sneakers to create awarness and show their support.
» With a 20-point outing at Saint Peter’s last Sunday, senior Noah Thomasson now has ten games this season with 20 or more points, including six in league play.
» Sam Iorio put together his best MAAC weekend of the year last week at Rider and Saint Peter’s. The veteran finished with 15.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.5 blocks per game. He shot 57.1 percent from the floor, 75.0 percent from 3-point land and 80.0 percent at the line.
» Niagara is currently has the fourth best scoring defense in the MAAC, allowing 64.6 points per game.
» The Purple Eagles have the fifth best assist/turnover margin in the league at 0.98.
» Niagara has is shooting 73.5 percent at the line this season, the third best percentage in the MAAC.
» The Purple Eagles are also third in the league in field goal percentage and 3-point percentage.

FULL PREVIEW:

https://purpleeagles.com/gameday/mens-b ... bball/377/

[le]

No more excuses with regards to attendance for hoops as the NFL season is over in WNY. Ditto both games at the Harbor Center this weekend between NU and CC.

[phillyeagle]

Very strong start for Niagara . Score 21- 10after 9 minutes. NU hitting 3s. Joe K hitting his shots.
Kiner comes off the bench forThe first time in games. What was wrong with him?

[phillyeagle]

Kinder sat for 9 games before tonight.

[jhart]

Losing discipline...Fouling on a 3? Da!
Seven NU TO's as MC is on 8-0 run and within 6 after a 14 point lead.
2 left in half.

[jhart]

NU 34-26 at half.
I don't care if Noah hits the three just before half; Can he spell the word "PASS"?
He's all him, one on one.
In the end, that is a plan that ends in failure!

[jhart]

Who's Kiner?

[phillyeagle]

What did you say about Murphy shooting 25+ shots a game? The best shooter shoots the ball.

[phillyeagle]

Kiner is a tall thin guy from a junior college who sat the bench for the last 9 games. He did play at the start of the season. I guess an unknown injury. He adds some height to the front.

[jhart]

I want to see more plays involving Sam.