The Niagara Purple Eagles (7-23) will have their chance to upend the Metro Atlantic Athletic’s best team when they take on the Monmouth Hawks (24-6) at Multipurpose Activity Center. Action gets underway at 5:00 pm ET on Sunday, Feb. 28 and will air on ES3.
The Hawks dismantled Rider 79-58 on Friday. Austin Tilghman had 10 points, seven rebounds, and four assists for Monmouth. The Purple Eagles are coming off a 65-60 loss to Canisius on Thursday. Emile Blackman led the game in scoring with 27 points.
It will be a battle of conflicting tempos, as the up-tempo Hawks (ranked 23rd in the nation in possessions per game) will look to push the slow-paced Purple Eagles (276th in possessions per game).
This will be the second matchup of the season between these two teams. The Hawks won the first game 56-42. Deon Jones was a standout player in the game, producing 11 points, six rebounds, one assist, three steals, two blocks, and one three-pointer.
The Hawks are hoping to build on their records of 24-6 Straight Up (SU) and 18-10 Against The Spread (ATS). Over their last 10 games, they have only managed a record of 2-8 ATS. The Hawks come into the game with the 21st-ranked scoring offense in the nation, averaging 80.4 points per game. The Hawks are an impressive shooting team from three-point range with a .378 three-point field goal percentage, one of the highest marks in Division I. Turning to the defensive side, teams have to fight for open shots against the Hawks, who have one of the best opponent field-goal percentages in the country at .394. The Hawks are 19th in the country in steals with 8.2 per game.
Over on the other bench, Niagara has a SU record of 7-23 and an ATS record of 12-14-1. Most recently, Niagara is 7-3 ATS over the last 10 games. Niagara has been playing better lately, averaging 79.6 PPG, significantly more than their season average of 63.4. One advantage for the Purple Eagles could be Monmouth’s high fouls per game average of 21.5.
In their previous meeting this season, Monmouth beat Niagara, bumping its SU record to 5-1 over Niagara in their most recent meetings. Additionally, with a 5-1 record, Monmouth has the advantage ATS. Monmouth held the edge in field goals, rebounds, and three-pointers twice, while Niagara was never able to do so in their most recent five games.
Predictions: SU Winner – Monm, ATS Winner – Monm
Notes
Monmouth is one of the top-scoring teams in the nation, averaging 80.4 points per game (ranked 21st). Niagara, on the other hand, allows 70.8 points per game (ranked 129th).
Monmouth won its last game by a 21-point margin. In games decided by a margin of 18 points or more, Niagara is 0-3. Monmouth is 4-0 in blowouts this season.
The Monmouth Hawks have a defensive rating of 97.9 (ranked 45th), while the Niagara Purple Eagles have an offensive rating of 94.5 (ranked 329th).
Niagara has an average field goal percentage of 40.2%. Monmouth is a solid 10-6 when opponents have a similar or higher field goal percentage.
The Monmouth Hawks rank lower for their field goal percentage (165th) than they do for their effective field goal percentage (141st), but the Niagara Purple Eagles have a better FG% ranking (328th) than eFG% ranking (337th).
Monmouth, the 72nd-ranked team in rebounding, register an average of 38.4 rebounds per game. Niagara does worse, ranked 175th with 36.2.
Monmouth averages 8.2 steals per game, ranking 19th in the country. Niagara is an abysmal 1-6 when it gives up at least 8 steals.
