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Niagara Purple Eagles men's basketball

Men's basketball team of Niagara University

Niagara Purple Eagles men's basketball

Men's basketball team of Niagara University

FieldValue
current2025–26 Niagara Purple Eagles men's basketball team
nameNiagara Purple Eagles
logoInitials niagara univ.svg
logo_size250
universityNiagara University
conferenceMAAC
record1508–1290–1
locationLewiston, New York
coachGreg Paulus
tenure7th
arenaGallagher Center
capacity2,400
nicknamePurple Eagles
NCAAsweetsixteen1970
NCAAsecondround1970
NCAAtourneys1970, 2005, 2007
conference_tournament2005, 2007
conference_season1999, 2005, 2013
WNY3: 1948, 1949, 1950, 1953, 1954, 1955
h_pattern_b_thinsidesonwhite
h_shorts582C83
h_pattern_s_blanksides2
a_body582C83
a_pattern_b_thinwhitesides
a_shorts582C83
a_pattern_s_whitesides

() 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.

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.{{cite web|url=http://www.terptalk.com/2013/03/19/a-trip-down-memory-lane-the-1972-nit-championship-game-terps-100-niagara-69/

Roster

55Harlan ObiohaForward7'0"SophomoreHoxie High SchoolHoxie, Kansas USA

Postseason

NCAA tournament results

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

2007Opening Round
First RoundFlorida A&M
KansasW 77–69
L 67–107

NIT results

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

2013First 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.

2018First RoundEastern MichiganL 65–83

All time MAAC Awards

2012-13

*Up to 2021-22 season

Seasons

Niagara wins vs. the AP Top 25

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

Retired jerseys

Niagara has retired nine jerseys.

Niagara Purple Eaglesborder=0color=white}}"No.Niagara Purple Eaglesborder=0color=white}}"PlayerNiagara Purple Eaglesborder=0color=white}}"Career
3Boo Ellis1955–1958
3Phil Scaffidi1975–1980
4Al Butler1958–1961
11Tom Birch1948–1951
19Zeke Sinicola1948–1951
21James Moran1948–1951
23Calvin Murphy1967–1970
69Larry Costello1951–1954
70Ed Fleming1951–1955

Head coaches

NameYearsSeasonsWinsLossesPct
Greg Paulus*2019–present420300.400
Patrick Beilein*2019*N/AN/AN/AN/A
Chris Casey2013–20196641290.332
Joe Mihalich1998–2013152652030.566
Jack Armstrong1989–199891001540.394
Andy Walker1985–1989459580.504
Pete Lonergan1980–1985567730.479
Dan Raskin1976–1980444610.419
Frank Layden1968–19768119970.551
James Maloney1965–1968335380.479
Taps Gallagher1946–1965193001720.636
Edward T. Flynn1944–1946218140.562
Taps Gallagher1931–194312165890.650
William McCarthy1927–1931444350.557
Pete Dwyer1923–1927441300.577
John Blake1919–1923461140.813

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

Purple Eagles in the [[National Basketball Association|NBA]] or National leagues

Chris Watson
  • Joe Arlauckas
  • Al Butler
  • T. J. Cline (born 1994), American-Israeli basketball player
  • Larry Costello
  • Boo Ellis
  • Bo Erias
  • Ed Fleming
  • Sam Iorio (born 1998), American-Israeli basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
  • 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

References

  1. "MBB History Book as of Nov. 9, 2022 (PDF)".
  2. Lenzi, Rachel. (2019-03-28). "Niagara hires Patrick Beilein as men's basketball coach".
  3. "Greg Paulus Named Interim Head Coach".
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