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.
Niagara Purple Eagles | |||
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University | Niagara University | ||
All-time record | 1508–1290–1 (.539) | ||
Head coach | Greg Paulus (6th season) | ||
Conference | MAAC | ||
Location | Lewiston, New York | ||
Arena | Gallagher Center (capacity: 2,400) | ||
Nickname | Purple Eagles | ||
Colors | Purple and white[1] | ||
Uniforms | |||
| |||
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
History
editNiagara 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
editPostseason
editNCAA tournament results
editThe Purple Eagles have appeared in three NCAA Tournaments. Their combined record is 2–4.
Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
---|---|---|---|
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 Round | Oklahoma | L 67–85 |
2007 | Opening Round First Round |
Florida A&M Kansas |
W 77–69 L 67–107 |
NIT results
editThe Purple Eagles have appeared in 14 National Invitation Tournaments. Their combined record is 9–14.
Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
---|---|---|---|
1950 | First Round | Western Kentucky | L 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 Round | Xavier | L 86–95 |
1961 | Quarterfinals | Providence | L 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 Round | Kentucky | L 61–67 |
1987 | First Round Second Round |
Seton Hall La Salle |
W 74–65 L 81–89 |
1993 | First Round | Boston College | L 83–87 |
2004 | Opening Round First Round |
Troy Nebraska |
W 87–83 L 70–78 |
2009 | First Round | Rhode Island | L 62–68 |
2013 | First Round | Maryland | L 72–86 |
CIT results
editThe Purple Eagles made their first appearance in the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT) in 2018. Their record is 0–1.
Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2018 | First Round | Eastern Michigan | L 65–83 |
All time MAAC Awards
editAward | Name | Winner |
---|---|---|
All-MAAC First Team | Patrick Jones | 1989-90 |
Brian Clifford | 1991-92 | |
1992-93 | ||
Chris Watson | 1995-96 | |
Alvin Young | 1998-99 | |
Demond Stewart | 2000-01 | |
Daryl Greene | 2001-02 | |
Juan Mendez | 2002-03 | |
2003-04 | ||
2004-05 | ||
Charron Fisher | 2006-07 | |
2007-08 | ||
Tyrone Lewis | 2008-09 | |
Bilal Benn | 2008-09 | |
Juan'ya Green | 2012-13 | |
Antoine Mason | 2012-13 | |
Kahlil Dukes | 2017-18 | |
Marcus Hammond | 2019-20 | |
2021-22 | ||
Noah Thomasson | 2022-23 | |
All-MAAC Second Team | Brian Clifford | 1990-91 |
Rob Robinson | 1992-93 | |
Chris Watson | 1994-95 | |
1996-97 | ||
Jermaine Young | 1997-98 | |
Jeremiah Johnson | 1998-99 | |
Demond Stewart | 1999-00 | |
Daryl Greene | 1999-00 | |
Tremmell Darden | 2002-03 | |
2003-04 | ||
Alvin Cruz | 2004-05 | |
Clif Brown | 2006-07 | |
Tyrone Lewis | 2007-08 | |
Benson Egemonye | 2008-09 | |
Tyrone Lewis | 2009-10 | |
Bilal Benn | 2009-10 | |
Anthony Nelson | 2010-11 | |
Antoine Mason | 2013-14 | |
Matt Scott | 2017-18 | |
Marvin Prochet | 2018-19 | |
Kobi Nwandu | 2020-21 | |
Marcus Hammond | 2020-21 | |
All-MAAC Third Team | Alvin Young | 1997-98 |
Michael Schmidt | 2000-01 | |
Tremmell Darden | 2001-02 | |
David Brooks | 2003-04 | |
James Reaves | 2003-04 | |
Clif Brown | 2005-06 | |
Lorenzo Miles | 2006-07 | |
Stanley Hodge | 2007-08 | |
Juan'ya Green | 2011-12 | |
Matt Scott | 2015-16 | |
2016-17 | ||
All-MAAC Rookie Team | Juan Mendez | 2001-02 |
Tyrone Lewis | 2006-07 | |
Anthony Nelson | 2007-08 | |
Marvin Jordan | 2010-11 | |
Juan'ya Green | 2011-12 | |
Antoine Mason | 2011-12 | |
T.J. Cline | 2012-13 | |
Dominique Reid | 2014-15 | |
Player of the year | Alvin Young | 1998-99 |
Demond Stewart | 2000-01 | |
Juan Mendez | 2004-05 | |
Kahlil Dukes | 2017-18 | |
Defensive player of the year | Tyrone Lewis | 2008-09 |
Anthony Nelson | 2010-11 | |
Rookie of the year | Brian Clifford | 1990-91 |
Juan'ya Green | 2011-12 | |
Sixth man of the year | Juan Mendez | 2001-02 |
James Mathis | 2004-05 | |
Clif Brown | 2005-06 | |
Coach of the Year | Jack Armstrong | 1992-93 |
Joe Mihalich | 1998-99 | |
2004-05 | ||
2012-13 |
*Up to 2021-22 season
Seasons
editSeason | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1969–70 | Niagara | 22–7 | NCAA Regional semifinals | ||||||
1970–71 | Niagara | 15–11 | |||||||
1971–72 | Niagara | 21–9 | NIT Championship game | ||||||
1972–73 | Niagara | 9–16 | |||||||
1973–74 | Niagara | 12–14 | |||||||
1974–75 | Niagara | 13–14 | |||||||
1975–76 | Niagara | 17–12 | |||||||
1976–77 | Niagara | 13–13 | |||||||
1977–78 | Niagara | 14–12 | |||||||
1978–79 | Niagara | 6–20 | |||||||
Niagara University Purple Eagles (ECAC North) (1979–1987) | |||||||||
1979–80 | Niagara | 11–16 | 11–15 | 8th | |||||
1980–81 | Niagara | 11–15 | 11–15 | T–6th | |||||
1981–82 | Niagara | 19–8 | 7–2 | T–2nd | |||||
1982–83 | Niagara | 11–18 | 5–4 | 5th | |||||
1983–84 | Niagara | 10–18 | 5–9 | 6th | |||||
1984–85 | Niagara | 16–12 | 11–5 | 4th | |||||
1985–86 | Niagara | 14–14 | 10–8 | T–5th | |||||
1986–87 | Niagara | 21–10 | 14–4 | 2nd | NIT Second round | ||||
Niagara University Purple Eagles (North Atlantic Conference) (1987–1989) | |||||||||
1987–88 | Niagara | 15–15 | 12–6 | T–3rd | |||||
1988–89 | Niagara | 9–19 | 6–12 | 7th | |||||
Niagara University Purple Eagles (Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) (1989–Present) | |||||||||
1989–90 | Niagara | 6–22 | 5–11 | T–4th | |||||
1990–91 | Niagara | 8–20 | 6–10 | 6th | |||||
1991–92 | Niagara | 14–14 | 8–8 | T–5th | |||||
1992–93 | Niagara | 23–7 | 11–3 | 2nd | NIT First round | ||||
1993–94 | Niagara | 6–21 | 3–11 | T–7th | |||||
1994–95 | Niagara | 5–25 | 2–12 | 8th | |||||
1995–96 | Niagara | 13–15 | 6–8 | 6th | |||||
1996–97 | Niagara | 11–17 | 5–9 | T–5th | |||||
1997–98 | Niagara | 14–13 | 10–8 | T–3rd | |||||
1998–99 | Niagara | 17–12 | 13–5 | T–1st | |||||
1999–00 | Niagara | 17–12 | 10–8 | T–4th | |||||
2000–01 | Niagara | 15–13 | 12–6 | T–1st | |||||
2001–02 | Niagara | 18–14 | 10–6 | T–3rd | |||||
2002–03 | Niagara | 17–12 | 12–6 | T–3rd | |||||
2003–04 | Niagara | 22–10 | 13–5 | 2nd | NIT First round | ||||
2004–05 | Niagara | 20–10 | 13–5 | T–1st | NCAA first round | ||||
2005–06 | Niagara | 11–18 | 7–11 | T–7th | |||||
2006–07 | Niagara | 23–12 | 13–5 | 2nd | NCAA first round | ||||
2007–08 | Niagara | 19–10 | 12–6 | T–3rd | |||||
2008–09 | Niagara | 26–9 | 14–4 | 2nd | NIT First round | ||||
2009–10 | Niagara | 18–15 | 9–9 | T–5th | |||||
2010–11 | Niagara | 9–23 | 5–13 | 8th | |||||
2011–12 | Niagara | 14–19 | 8–10 | T–6th | |||||
2012–13 | Niagara | 19–14 | 13–5 | 1st | NIT First round | ||||
2013–14 | Niagara | 7–26 | 3–17 | 11th | |||||
2014–15 | Niagara | 8–22 | 7–13 | T–8th | |||||
2015–16 | Niagara | 7–25 | 5–15 | 10th | |||||
2016–17 | Niagara | 10–23 | 6–14 | 9th | |||||
2017–18 | Niagara | 19–14 | 12–6 | 3rd | CIT First round | ||||
2018–19 | Niagara | 13–19 | 6–12 | T–9th | |||||
2019–20 | Niagara | 12–20 | 9–11 | T–6th | |||||
2020–21 | Niagara | 9–11 | 7–9 | 5th | |||||
2021–22 | Niagara | 14-16 | 9-11 | 5th | |||||
2022–23 | Niagara | 16-15 | 10-10 | 5th | |||||
Niagara Purple Eagles: | 480–548 (.467) | 294–302 (.493) | |||||||
Total: | 466–532 (.467) | ||||||||
National champion
Postseason invitational champion
|
Niagara wins vs. the AP Top 25
editYear | Opponent | Score | Site |
---|---|---|---|
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 72–68 | Away |
1955–56 | #18 La Salle | W 72–70 | Away |
1957–58 | #16 Western Kentucky | W 77–74 OT | Neutral |
1960–61 | #2 St.Bonaventure | W 87–77 | Away |
1966–67 | #9 Providence | W 77–76 | Home |
1969–70 | #6 Tennessee #7 Pennsylvania |
W 69–68 W 79–69 |
Neutral Neutral |
1970–71 | #9 Drake | W 87–77 | Neutral |
1984–85 | #4 St.Johns | W 62–59 | Home |
Retired jerseys
editNiagara has retired nine jerseys.[4]
Niagara Purple Eagles retired numbers | |||||
No. | Player | Career | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 | |||
21 | James Moran | 1948–1951 | |||
23 | Calvin Murphy | 1967–1970 | |||
69 | Larry Costello | 1951–1954 | |||
70 | Ed Fleming | 1951–1955 |
Head coaches
editName | Years | Seasons | Wins | Losses | Pct |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Greg Paulus* | 2019–present | 4 | 20 | 30 | 0.400 |
Patrick Beilein[5]* | 2019* | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Chris Casey | 2013–2019 | 6 | 64 | 129 | 0.332 |
Joe Mihalich | 1998–2013 | 15 | 265 | 203 | 0.566 |
Jack Armstrong | 1989–1998 | 9 | 100 | 154 | 0.394 |
Andy Walker | 1985–1989 | 4 | 59 | 58 | 0.504 |
Pete Lonergan | 1980–1985 | 5 | 67 | 73 | 0.479 |
Dan Raskin | 1976–1980 | 4 | 44 | 61 | 0.419 |
Frank Layden | 1968–1976 | 8 | 119 | 97 | 0.551 |
James Maloney | 1965–1968 | 3 | 35 | 38 | 0.479 |
Taps Gallagher | 1946–1965 | 19 | 300 | 172 | 0.636 |
Edward T. Flynn | 1944–1946 | 2 | 18 | 14 | 0.562 |
Taps Gallagher | 1931–1943 | 12 | 165 | 89 | 0.650 |
William McCarthy | 1927–1931 | 4 | 44 | 35 | 0.557 |
Peter Dwyer | 1923–1927 | 4 | 41 | 30 | 0.577 |
John Blake | 1919–1923 | 4 | 61 | 14 | 0.813 |
*-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.
- Joe Arlauckas
- Al Butler
- T. J. Cline (born 1994), American-Israeli basketball player
- Larry Costello
- Boo Ellis
- Bo Erias
- Ed Fleming
- Manny Leaks
- Juan Mendez
- Calvin Murphy
- Zeke Sinicola
- Joe Smyth
- Chris Watson (born 1975), American-Israeli basketball player in the Israeli Premier League. In the Niagara University Hall of Fame.
- Andy Walker
References
edit- ^ "Niagara University Athletic Department Quick Facts". August 2, 2011. Retrieved April 15, 2016.
- ^ "A trip Down Memory Lane-The 1972 NIT Championship Game -Terps 100 Niagara 69". terptalk.com. 19 March 2013. Retrieved 2019-03-21.
- ^ "Niagara Purple Eagles Index". Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2019-03-21.
- ^ "MBB History Book as of Nov. 9, 2022 (PDF)" (PDF). Niagara University Athletics.
- ^ Lenzi, Rachel (2019-03-28). "Niagara hires Patrick Beilein as men's basketball coach". The Buffalo News. Retrieved 2019-03-28.
- ^ "Greg Paulus Named Interim Head Coach". Niagara University Athletics. Retrieved 2019-10-24.