Non-Conference Schedule

NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – Niagara men’s basketball head coach Joe Mihalich has announced the non-conference schedule for the upcoming season. The Purple Eagles will face another challenging schedule with road dates at St. Bonaventure, Buffalo and Notre Dame while hosting an in-season classic.

“I always say that your non-conference schedule should sharpen your teeth for conference play,” Mihalich said. “This is exactly the non-conference schedule we need; great home games, big names, and a challenge every night.”

The Purple Eagles open the season participating in the 2K Sports Classic benefiting Wounded Warrior Project on either Nov. 9, 10, or 11. NU will then host the subregional round from Nov. 16-18. Participating teams in the field will be announced at a later date.

Before NU host the subregional, the Purple and White will open their home portion of their schedule on Nov. 13 against St. Francis (Pa.).

Niagara starts a stretch of three straight non-conference games away from the Gallagher on Nov. 24 when it continues its rivalry with St. Bonaventure in Rochester, N.Y. at the Blue Cross Arena.  Niagara will head to Mount Pleasant, Mich. to face Central Michigan on Dec. 2 before returning to Western New York to face Big Four rival Buffalo on Dec. 8.

The Purple Eagles return to the Gallagher Center to play Hartford on Dec. 12 and Vermont on Dec. 16 in a rematch of last season’s Sears BracketBusters.

Niagara wraps up 2012 with a visit to Notre Dame on Dec. 21 for the programs’ third ever meeting. The Purple Eagles’ last non-conference game is at Brown on Jan. 8.

NU returns the core of the team that advanced to the MAAC Tournament Quarterfinals. The Purple Eagles, who were the third youngest team in the country last season, will feature reigning Mid-Major Freshman of the Year Juan'ya Green and backcourt teammate and MAAC All-Rookie Team honoree Antoine Mason.

For more ticket information, contact the Niagara Athletic Ticket Office (located at Dwyer Arena) at 716-286-TIXX (8499), tickets@purpleeagles.com or www.PurpleEagles.com/tickets. 

Notes
Niagara will play three teams that qualified for the 2012 NCAA Tournament (St. Bonaventure, Vermont, Notre Dame)…Third straight season NU will play in a Gazelle Group Tournament (2k Sports, CBE, Legends) …Juan’ya Green’s layup with 0.2 seconds remaining lifted Niagara to a 65-63 win over St. Francis (Pa.) in last season’s meeting on Nov. 28 in Loretto, Pa…NU erased a 20-point first half deficit in that game…NU had its eight-game win streak against Bona snapped in a thrilling 72-70 defeat last season…It was NU’s first home loss in the series since Dec. 2000…Niagara improved to 3-0 all-time against Central Michigan when it defeated the Chippewas in the 2011 Sears BracketBusters on February 19, 2011…The Purple Eagles lead the all-times series with UB, 58-31…Juan’ya Green, Marvin Jordan and Antoine Mason combined for 59 points in the win at Hartford last season…NU’s six-game win streak against Vermont came to an end last season in the first meeting between the programs since January 1989…Niagara is 0-2 all-time against Notre Dame with the most recent meeting coming in 2005…Niagara and Brown will meet only for the third time with the last meeting coming in Dec. 1995 (series tied at 1-1).