Metro Atlantic Athletic foes will collide when the Quinnipiac Bobcats (5-13) square off against the Niagara Purple Eagles (6-16) at TD Bank Sports Center. Action starts at 2:00 pm ET on Saturday, Jan. 30.
The Bobcats are hoping for a better outcome after their 66-51 loss to Monmouth on Thursday. Daniel Harris was the team’s leading scorer with 11 points. The Purple Eagles, meanwhile, are coming off a 69-66 win against Marist on Thursday. Matt Scott played well, recording 32 points and 13 rebounds to claim his fifth double-double of the season.
Over the last five games, Scott has upped his play for the Purple Eagles. During that stretch, he has averaged 24.2 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 3.0 steals, and 1.6 three-pointers.
This will be the second matchup of the season between these two teams. The Purple Eagles won the first game 76-72. Giovanni McLean was a top player in the game with 21 points, eight rebounds, six assists, two steals, and four three-pointers.
The Bobcats enter the game with records of 5-13 Straight Up (SU) and 3-7 Against The Spread (ATS). They are 2-6 ATS over their last 10 games. The rebounding edge goes to the Bobcats in this matchup, who are one of the top rebounding teams in the nation with an average of 45.4 boards per game. As for the Quinnipiac defense, teams really have to fight for three-pointers against the Bobcats, who have allowed only 5.0 three-pointers to opponents per game.
In the other locker room, the Purple Eagles are a good bet so far, with a respectable record of 11-7-1 ATS. Their SU record, 6-16, hasn’t been quite as good.
Niagara beat Quinnipiac in their most recent meeting this season, but Quinnipiac still leads the head-to-head record, 6-2 SU, over their most recent matchups. At 3-3, they are even ATS. Quinnipiac held the advantage in field goals, rebounds, and three-pointers one time in the last five matchups. On the other side of the court, Niagara never accomplished this feat in that span.
Predictions: SU Winner – Quinni, ATS Winner – Quinni
Notes
Quinnipiac is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games.
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Quinnipiac’s last 7 games.
Quinnipiac is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games.
Quinnipiac is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games at home.
Quinnipiac is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games when playing Niagara.
Quinnipiac scores just 59.2 points per home game (ranked 313th). Niagara ranks 71st in points allowed on the road, giving up 70.8 points.
Niagara won its last game by a three-point margin. In games decided by a margin of three points or less, Quinnipiac is 2-1. Niagara is 4-1 in close games this season.
Quinnipiac has an average field goal percentage of 35.2%. Niagara is an underachieving 5-15 when opponents have a similar or higher field goal percentage.
Quinnipiac attempts an average of 22.0 three pointers per game and Niagara attempts 18.0. In games where they have 20 or more three point attempts, the Quinnipiac Bobcats have an abysmal 2-10 record, while the Niagara Purple Eagles are winless at 0-8.
Ranked second in the nation, Quinnipiac averages 45.4 rebounds per game. Niagara ranks lower at 204th with 36.0 RPG.
Niagara ranks 122nd in offensive rebounds, while Quinnipiac ranks at 73rd in defensive rebounds.
Quinnipiac has forced an average turnover percentage of 17.7% this season. Niagara has an underachieving 5-15 record when its TO% is 17.7% or higher.
