Who’s Playing
Monmouth @ Niagara
Current Records: Monmouth 5-1; Niagara 3-3
What to Know
The Monmouth Hawks and the Niagara Purple Eagles are set to square off in an MAAC matchup at 7 p.m. ET Dec. 3 at Gallagher Center. The teams split their matchups last year, with the Hawks winning the first 77-67 and Niagara taking the second 83-74.
Monmouth came out on top in a nail-biter against the Cincinnati Bearcats on Saturday, sneaking past 61-59. It was another big night for Monmouth’s guard Marcus McClary, who had 18 points along with six rebounds.
Meanwhile, Niagara had enough points to win and then some against the Colgate Raiders on Monday, taking their matchup 70-59.
Barring any buzzer beaters, Monmouth is expected to win a tight contest Friday. Bettors make note: they are flawless against the spread this season.
The wins brought the Hawks up to 5-1 and the Purple Eagles to 3-3. Two stats to keep in the back of your head while watching: Monmouth is stumbling into the contest with the 24th fewest takeaways in college basketball, having accrued only 11 on average. Niagaras have had an even harder time: they are 10th worst in college basketball in takeaways, with only 10.5 on average. It’s possible one of these Achilles’ heels will wind up tripping the losing team up.
How To Watch
- When: Friday at 7 p.m. ET
- Where: Gallagher Center — Niagara, New York
- Follow: CBS Sports App
Odds
The Hawks are a slight 1.5-point favorite against the Purple Eagles, according to the latest college basketball odds.
The oddsmakers had a good feel for the line for this one, as the game opened with the Hawks as a 1-point favorite.
Over/Under: -110
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Series History
Monmouth have won eight out of their last 13 games against Niagara.
- Jan 30, 2021 – Niagara 83 vs. Monmouth 74
- Jan 29, 2021 – Monmouth 77 vs. Niagara 67
- Feb 16, 2020 – Niagara 77 vs. Monmouth 72
- Jan 24, 2020 – Monmouth 82 vs. Niagara 71
- Mar 07, 2019 – Monmouth 76 vs. Niagara 72
- Jan 26, 2019 – Niagara 75 vs. Monmouth 48
- Feb 04, 2018 – Niagara 96 vs. Monmouth 91
- Jan 12, 2018 – Niagara 78 vs. Monmouth 77
- Mar 03, 2017 – Monmouth 84 vs. Niagara 59
- Feb 16, 2017 – Monmouth 93 vs. Niagara 75
- Jan 14, 2017 – Monmouth 90 vs. Niagara 83
- Feb 28, 2016 – Monmouth 77 vs. Niagara 68
- Dec 06, 2015 – Monmouth 56 vs. Niagara 42
