# Niagara Purple Eagles men's basketball

    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. Niagara has been ranked in the AP Final Polls twice, 16th in 1954 and 17th in 1970.

## Roster

2023-2024 Niagara Purple Eagles :
| Number | Name | Position | Height | Year | Previous School | Hometown |
| 1 | Randy Tucker | Guard | 6'4" | Graduate Student | Green Bay | Rock Island, Illinois |
| 2 | Lance Erving | Guard | 6'3" | Senior | Chipola Community College | Leesburg, Florida |
| 4 | Braxton Bayless | Guard | 6'2" | Senior | Indian Hills Community College | Ankeny, Iowa |
| 5 | Luke Bumbalough | Guard | 6'1" | Graduate Student | Ball State | New Castle, Indiana |
| 10 | Jalen Brown | Guard | 5'10" | Sophomore | De La Salle | Chicago, Illinois |
| 11 | Ahmad Henderson II | Guard | 5'9" | Sophomore | Brother Rice | Chicago, Illinois |
| 12 | Kwane Marble Jr. | Guard | 6'5" | Graduate Student | Loyola Marymount | Denver, Colorado |
| 13 | Dre Bullock | Forward | 6'6" | Junior | LA Tech | Franklinton, North Carolina |
| 15 | Yaw Obeng-Mensah | Forward | 6'7" | Senior | UMBC | Toronto, Ontario |
| 20 | Malik Edwards | Guard | 6'2" | Junior | William Penn (NAIA) | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| 24 | Aime Rutayisire | Forward | 6'8" | Sophomore | Barton (NJCAA) | Adelaide, South Australia |
| 55 | Harlan Obioha | Forward | 7'0" | Sophomore | Hoxie High School | Hoxie, Kansas |

## Postseason
### NCAA tournament results

The 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

The 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

The 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

| Award | Name | Winner |
| All-MAAC First Team | Patrick Jones | 1989-90 |
| All-MAAC First Team | Brian Clifford | 1991-92 |
| All-MAAC First Team | Brian Clifford | 1992-93 |
| All-MAAC First Team | Chris Watson | 1995-96 |
| All-MAAC First Team | Alvin Young | 1998-99 |
| All-MAAC First Team | Demond Stewart | 2000-01 |
| All-MAAC First Team | Daryl Greene | 2001-02 |
| All-MAAC First Team | Juan Mendez | 2002-03 |
| All-MAAC First Team | Juan Mendez | 2003-04 |
| All-MAAC First Team | Juan Mendez | 2004-05 |
| All-MAAC First Team | Charron Fisher | 2006-07 |
| All-MAAC First Team | Charron Fisher | 2007-08 |
| All-MAAC First Team | Tyrone Lewis | 2008-09 |
| All-MAAC First Team | Bilal Benn | 2008-09 |
| All-MAAC First Team | Juan'ya Green | 2012-13 |
| All-MAAC First Team | Antoine Mason | 2012-13 |
| All-MAAC First Team | Kahlil Dukes | 2017-18 |
| All-MAAC First Team | Marcus Hammond | 2019-20 |
| All-MAAC First Team | Marcus Hammond | 2021-22 |
| All-MAAC First Team | Noah Thomasson | 2022-23 |
| All-MAAC Second Team | Brian Clifford | 1990-91 |
| All-MAAC Second Team | Rob Robinson | 1992-93 |
| All-MAAC Second Team | Chris Watson | 1994-95 |
| All-MAAC Second Team | Chris Watson | 1996-97 |
| All-MAAC Second Team | Jermaine Young | 1997-98 |
| All-MAAC Second Team | Jeremiah Johnson | 1998-99 |
| All-MAAC Second Team | Demond Stewart | 1999-00 |
| All-MAAC Second Team | Daryl Greene | 1999-00 |
| All-MAAC Second Team | Tremmell Darden | 2002-03 |
| All-MAAC Second Team | Tremmell Darden | 2003-04 |
| All-MAAC Second Team | Alvin Cruz | 2004-05 |
| All-MAAC Second Team | Clif Brown | 2006-07 |
| All-MAAC Second Team | Tyrone Lewis | 2007-08 |
| All-MAAC Second Team | Benson Egemonye | 2008-09 |
| All-MAAC Second Team | Tyrone Lewis | 2009-10 |
| All-MAAC Second Team | Bilal Benn | 2009-10 |
| All-MAAC Second Team | Anthony Nelson | 2010-11 |
| All-MAAC Second Team | Antoine Mason | 2013-14 |
| All-MAAC Second Team | Matt Scott | 2017-18 |
| All-MAAC Second Team | Marvin Prochet | 2018-19 |
| All-MAAC Second Team | Kobi Nwandu | 2020-21 |
| All-MAAC Second Team | Marcus Hammond | 2020-21 |
| All-MAAC Third Team | Alvin Young | 1997-98 |
| All-MAAC Third Team | Michael Schmidt | 2000-01 |
| All-MAAC Third Team | Tremmell Darden | 2001-02 |
| All-MAAC Third Team | David Brooks | 2003-04 |
| All-MAAC Third Team | James Reaves | 2003-04 |
| All-MAAC Third Team | Clif Brown | 2005-06 |
| All-MAAC Third Team | Lorenzo Miles | 2006-07 |
| All-MAAC Third Team | Stanley Hodge | 2007-08 |
| All-MAAC Third Team | Juan'ya Green | 2011-12 |
| All-MAAC Third Team | Matt Scott | 2015-16 |
| All-MAAC Third Team | Matt Scott | 2016-17 |
| All-MAAC Rookie Team | Juan Mendez | 2001-02 |
| All-MAAC Rookie Team | Tyrone Lewis | 2006-07 |
| All-MAAC Rookie Team | Anthony Nelson | 2007-08 |
| All-MAAC Rookie Team | Marvin Jordan | 2010-11 |
| All-MAAC Rookie Team | Juan'ya Green | 2011-12 |
| All-MAAC Rookie Team | Antoine Mason | 2011-12 |
| All-MAAC Rookie Team | T.J. Cline | 2012-13 |
| All-MAAC Rookie Team | Dominique Reid | 2014-15 |
| Player of the year | Alvin Young | 1998-99 |
| Player of the year | Demond Stewart | 2000-01 |
| Player of the year | Juan Mendez | 2004-05 |
| Player of the year | Kahlil Dukes | 2017-18 |
| Defensive player of the year | Tyrone Lewis | 2008-09 |
| Defensive player of the year | Anthony Nelson | 2010-11 |
| Rookie of the year | Brian Clifford | 1990-91 |
| Rookie of the year | Juan'ya Green | 2011-12 |
| Sixth man of the year | Juan Mendez | 2001-02 |
| Sixth man of the year | James Mathis | 2004-05 |
| Sixth man of the year | Clif Brown | 2005-06 |
| Coach of the Year | Jack Armstrong | 1992-93 |
| Coach of the Year | Joe Mihalich | 1998-99 |
| Coach of the Year | Joe Mihalich | 2004-05 |
| Coach of the Year | Joe Mihalich | 2012-13 |
*Up to 2021-22 season

## Seasons

Statistics overview :
| Season | 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: | Niagara Purple Eagles: | 480–548 (.467) | 294–302 (.493) | | |
| Total: | Total: | 466–532 (.467) | | | |
| National champion   Postseason invitational champion   Conference regular season champion   Conference regular season and conference tournament champion  Division regular season champion  Division regular season and conference tournament champion  Conference tournament champion ||||||

## Niagara wins vs. the AP Top 25

| Year | 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

Niagara has retired nine jerseys.
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

| Name | Years | Seasons | Wins | Losses | Pct |
| Greg Paulus* | 2019–present | 4 | 20 | 30 | 0.400 |
| Patrick Beilein* | 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; Paulus was named interim head coach in his place.

## Purple Eagles in the NBA or National leagues

* 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