Niagara Purple Eagles men's basketball

Last updated
Niagara Purple Eagles
Basketball current event.svg 2024–25 Niagara Purple Eagles men's basketball team
Initials niagara univ.svg
University Niagara University
All-time record1508–1290–1 (.539)
Head coach Greg Paulus (6th season)
Conference MAAC
Location Lewiston, New York
Arena Gallagher Center
(capacity: 2,400)
NicknamePurple Eagles
ColorsPurple and white [1]
   
Uniforms
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Home
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Away


NCAA tournament Sweet Sixteen
1970
NCAA tournament second round
1970
NCAA tournament appearances
1970, 2005, 2007
Conference tournament champions
2005, 2007
Conference regular season champions
1999, 2005, 2013
WNY3: 1948, 1949, 1950, 1953, 1954, 1955
For information on all Niagara University sports, see Niagara Purple Eagles

The Niagara Purple Eagles men's basketball team is the college basketball team that represents Niagara University in Lewiston, New York, United States. The school's team currently competes in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. The team formerly played at the now-defunct Niagara Falls Convention and Civic Center from 1973 to 1982 and from 1988 to 1996.

Contents

History

Niagara has played in the NCAA Tournament three times. They last played in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament in 2007. They played in the National Invitation Tournament on 14 occasions, advancing to the championship game in 1972 before losing to Maryland. [2] Niagara has been ranked in the AP Final Polls twice, 16th in 1954 and 17th in 1970. [3]

Roster

2023-2024 Niagara Purple Eagles
NumberNamePositionHeightYearPrevious SchoolHometown
1Randy TuckerGuard6'4"Graduate StudentGreen BayRock Island, Illinois Flag of the United States.svg
2Lance ErvingGuard6'3"SeniorChipola Community CollegeLeesburg, Florida Flag of the United States.svg
4Braxton BaylessGuard6'2"SeniorIndian Hills Community CollegeAnkeny, Iowa Flag of the United States.svg
5Luke BumbaloughGuard6'1"Graduate StudentBall StateNew Castle, Indiana Flag of the United States.svg
10Jalen BrownGuard5'10"SophomoreDe La SalleChicago, Illinois Flag of the United States.svg
11Ahmad Henderson IIGuard5'9"SophomoreBrother RiceChicago, Illinois Flag of the United States.svg
12Kwane Marble Jr.Guard6'5"Graduate StudentLoyola MarymountDenver, Colorado Flag of the United States.svg
13Dre BullockForward6'6"JuniorLA TechFranklinton, North Carolina Flag of the United States.svg
15Yaw Obeng-MensahForward6'7"SeniorUMBCToronto, Ontario Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg
20Malik EdwardsGuard6'2"JuniorWilliam Penn (NAIA)Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Flag of the United States.svg
24Aime RutayisireForward6'8"SophomoreBarton (NJCAA)Adelaide, South Australia Flag of Australia (converted).svg
55Harlan ObiohaForward7'0"SophomoreHoxie High SchoolHoxie, Kansas Flag of the United States.svg

Postseason

NCAA tournament results

The Purple Eagles have appeared in three NCAA Tournaments. Their combined record is 2–4.

YearRoundOpponentResult
1970 First Round
Sweet Sixteen
Regional third place Game		Pennsylvania
Villanova
North Carolina State		W 79–69
L 73–98
L 88–108
2005 First RoundOklahomaL 67–85
2007 Opening Round
First Round		Florida A&M
Kansas		W 77–69
L 67–107

NIT results

The Purple Eagles have appeared in 14 National Invitation Tournaments. Their combined record is 9–14.

YearRoundOpponentResult
1950 First RoundWestern KentuckyL 72–79
1953 First Round
Quarterfinals		BYU
Seton Hall		W 82–76
L 74–79
1954 Quarterfinals
Semifinals
3rd Place Game		Dayton
Duquesne
Western Kentucky		W 77–74
L 51–66
W 71–65
1955 First Round
Quarterfinals		Lafayette
Cincinnati		W 83–70
L 83–85
1956 Quarterfinals St. Francis (NY) L 72–74
1958 First RoundXavierL 86–95
1961 QuarterfinalsProvidenceL 68–71
1972 First Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Finals		UTEP
Princeton
St. John's
Maryland		W 76–57
W 65–60
W 69–67
L 69–100
1976 First RoundKentuckyL 61–67
1987 First Round
Second Round		Seton Hall
La Salle		W 74–65
L 81–89
1993 First RoundBoston CollegeL 83–87
2004 Opening Round
First Round		Troy
Nebraska		W 87–83
L 70–78
2009 First RoundRhode IslandL 62–68
2013 First RoundMarylandL 72–86

CIT results

The Purple Eagles made their first appearance in the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT) in 2018. Their record is 0–1.

YearRoundOpponentResult
2018 First RoundEastern MichiganL 65–83

All time MAAC Awards

AwardNameWinner
All-MAAC First TeamPatrick Jones1989-90
Brian Clifford1991-92
1992-93
Chris Watson1995-96
Alvin Young1998-99
Demond Stewart2000-01
Daryl Greene2001-02
Juan Mendez2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
Charron Fisher2006-07
2007-08
Tyrone Lewis2008-09
Bilal Benn2008-09
Juan'ya Green2012-13
Antoine Mason2012-13
Kahlil Dukes2017-18
Marcus Hammond2019-20
2021-22
Noah Thomasson2022-23
All-MAAC Second TeamBrian Clifford1990-91
Rob Robinson1992-93
Chris Watson1994-95
1996-97
Jermaine Young1997-98
Jeremiah Johnson1998-99
Demond Stewart1999-00
Daryl Greene1999-00
Tremmell Darden2002-03
2003-04
Alvin Cruz2004-05
Clif Brown2006-07
Tyrone Lewis2007-08
Benson Egemonye2008-09
Tyrone Lewis2009-10
Bilal Benn2009-10
Anthony Nelson2010-11
Antoine Mason2013-14
Matt Scott2017-18
Marvin Prochet2018-19
Kobi Nwandu2020-21
Marcus Hammond2020-21
All-MAAC Third TeamAlvin Young1997-98
Michael Schmidt2000-01
Tremmell Darden2001-02
David Brooks2003-04
James Reaves2003-04
Clif Brown2005-06
Lorenzo Miles2006-07
Stanley Hodge2007-08
Juan'ya Green2011-12
Matt Scott2015-16
2016-17
All-MAAC Rookie TeamJuan Mendez2001-02
Tyrone Lewis2006-07
Anthony Nelson2007-08
Marvin Jordan2010-11
Juan'ya Green2011-12
Antoine Mason2011-12
T.J. Cline 2012-13
Dominique Reid2014-15
Player of the yearAlvin Young1998-99
Demond Stewart2000-01
Juan Mendez2004-05
Kahlil Dukes2017-18
Defensive player of the yearTyrone Lewis2008-09
Anthony Nelson2010-11
Rookie of the yearBrian Clifford1990-91
Juan'ya Green2011-12
Sixth man of the yearJuan Mendez2001-02
James Mathis2004-05
Clif Brown2005-06
Coach of the YearJack Armstrong1992-93
Joe Mihalich1998-99
2004-05
2012-13

*Up to 2021-22 season

Seasons

Statistics overview
SeasonTeamOverallConferenceStandingPostseason
1969–70Niagara 22–7 NCAA Regional semifinals
1970–71Niagara 15–11
1971–72Niagara 21–9 NIT Championship game
1972–73Niagara 9–16
1973–74Niagara 12–14
1974–75Niagara 13–14
1975–76Niagara 17–12
1976–77Niagara 13–13
1977–78Niagara 14–12
1978–79Niagara 6–20
Niagara University Purple Eagles (ECAC North)(1979–1987)
1979–80Niagara 11–1611–158th
1980–81Niagara 11–1511–15T–6th
1981–82Niagara 19–87–2T–2nd
1982–83Niagara 11–185–45th
1983–84Niagara 10–185–96th
1984–85Niagara 16–1211–54th
1985–86Niagara 14–1410–8T–5th
1986–87Niagara 21–1014–42nd NIT Second round
Niagara University Purple Eagles (North Atlantic Conference)(1987–1989)
1987–88Niagara 15–1512–6T–3rd
1988–89Niagara 9–196–127th
Niagara University Purple Eagles (Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference)(1989–Present)
1989–90Niagara 6–225–11T–4th
1990–91Niagara 8–206–106th
1991–92Niagara 14–148–8T–5th
1992–93Niagara 23–711–32nd NIT First round
1993–94Niagara 6–213–11T–7th
1994–95Niagara 5–252–128th
1995–96Niagara 13–156–86th
1996–97Niagara 11–175–9T–5th
1997–98Niagara 14–1310–8T–3rd
1998–99Niagara 17–1213–5T–1st
1999–00Niagara 17–1210–8T–4th
2000–01Niagara 15–1312–6T–1st
2001–02Niagara 18–1410–6T–3rd
2002–03Niagara 17–1212–6T–3rd
2003–04Niagara 22–1013–52nd NIT First round
2004–05Niagara 20–1013–5T–1st NCAA first round
2005–06Niagara 11–187–11T–7th
2006–07Niagara 23–1213–52nd NCAA first round
2007–08Niagara 19–1012–6T–3rd
2008–09Niagara 26–914–42nd NIT First round
2009–10Niagara 18–159–9T–5th
2010–11Niagara 9–235–138th
2011–12Niagara 14–198–10T–6th
2012–13 Niagara 19–1413–51st NIT First round
2013–14 Niagara 7–263–1711th
2014–15 Niagara 8–227–13T–8th
2015–16 Niagara 7–255–1510th
2016–17 Niagara 10–236–149th
2017–18 Niagara 19–1412–63rd CIT First round
2018–19 Niagara 13–196–12T–9th
2019–20 Niagara 12–209–11T–6th
2020–21 Niagara 9–117–95th
2021–22 Niagara 14-169-115th
2022–23 Niagara 16-1510-105th
Niagara Purple Eagles:480–548 (.467)294–302 (.493)
Total:466–532 (.467)

      National champion        Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion        Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion      Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

Niagara wins vs. the AP Top 25

YearOpponentScoreSite
1950–51#17 St.Bonaventure
#7 St.Johns 		W 72–57
W 77–75		Home
Away
1953–54#6 La Salle
#16 La Salle
#14 Dayton
#4 Western Kentucky 		W 74–66
W 69–50
W 77–74
W 71–65		Home
Home
Neutral
Neutral
1954–55#14 Holy Cross W 72–68Away
1955–56#18 La Salle W 72–70Away
1957–58#16 Western Kentucky W 77–74 OTNeutral
1960–61#2 St.Bonaventure W 87–77Away
1966–67#9 Providence W 77–76Home
1969–70#6 Tennessee
#7 Pennsylvania 		W 69–68
W 79–69		Neutral
Neutral
1970–71#9 Drake W 87–77Neutral
1984–85#4 St.Johns W 62–59Home

Retired jerseys

Niagara has retired nine jerseys. [4]

Niagara Purple Eagles retired numbers
No.PlayerCareer
3 Boo Ellis 1955–1958
3 Phil Scaffidi 1975–1980
4 Al Butler 1958–1961
11 Tom Birch 1948–1951
19 Zeke Sinicola 1948–1951
21James Moran1948–1951
23 Calvin Murphy 1967–1970
69 Larry Costello 1951–1954
70 Ed Fleming 1951–1955

Head coaches

NameYearsSeasonsWinsLossesPct
Greg Paulus*2019–present420300.400
Patrick Beilein [5] *2019*N/AN/AN/AN/A
Chris Casey 2013–20196641290.332
Joe Mihalich 1998–2013152652030.566
Jack Armstrong 1989–199891001540.394
Andy Walker1985–1989459580.504
Pete Lonergan1980–1985567730.479
Dan Raskin1976–1980444610.419
Frank Layden 1968–19768119970.551
James Maloney1965–1968335380.479
Taps Gallagher1946–1965193001720.636
Edward T. Flynn1944–1946218140.562
Taps Gallagher1931–194312165890.650
William McCarthy1927–1931444350.557
Peter Dwyer1923–1927441300.577
John Blake1919–1923461140.813

*-Beilein was hired in March 2019 but resigned in October 2019 without having coached a game; [6] Paulus was named interim head coach in his place.

Purple Eagles in the NBA or National leagues

Chris Watson Chris Watson.JPG
Chris Watson

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023–24 Niagara Purple Eagles men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2023–24 Niagara Purple Eagles men's basketball team represented Niagara University during the 2023–24 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Purple Eagles, led by fifth-year head coach Greg Paulus, played their home games at the Gallagher Center in Lewiston, New York as members of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.

References

  1. ↑ "Niagara University Athletic Department Quick Facts". August 2, 2011. Retrieved April 15, 2016.
  2. ↑ "A trip Down Memory Lane-The 1972 NIT Championship Game -Terps 100 Niagara 69". terptalk.com. 19 March 2013. Retrieved 2019-03-21.
  3. ↑ "Niagara Purple Eagles Index". Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2019-03-21.
  4. ↑ "MBB History Book as of Nov. 9, 2022 (PDF)" (PDF). Niagara University Athletics.
  5. ↑ Lenzi, Rachel (2019-03-28). "Niagara hires Patrick Beilein as men's basketball coach". The Buffalo News. Retrieved 2019-03-28.
  6. ↑ "Greg Paulus Named Interim Head Coach". Niagara University Athletics. Retrieved 2019-10-24.
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