Niagara Purple Eagles men's basketball


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.

Postseason

NCAA Tournament results

The Purple Eagles have appeared in three NCAA Tournaments. Their combined record is 2–4.
1970First Round
Sweet Sixteen
Regional Third Place Game		Pennsylvania
Villanova
North Carolina State		W 79–69
L 73–98
L 88–108
2005First RoundOklahomaL 67–85
2007Opening 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.
1950First RoundWestern KentuckyL 72–79
1953First Round
Quarterfinals		BYU
Seton Hall		W 82–76
L 74–79
1954Quarterfinals
Semifinals
3rd Place Game		Dayton
Duquesne
Western Kentucky		W 77–74
L 51–66
W 71–65
1955First Round
Quarterfinals		Lafayette
Cincinnati		W 83–70
L 83–85
1956QuarterfinalsSt. Francis L 72–74
1958First RoundXavierL 86–95
1961QuarterfinalsProvidenceL 68–71
1972First Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Finals		UTEP
Princeton
St. John's
Maryland		W 76–57
W 65–60
W 69–67
L 69–100
1976First RoundKentuckyL 61–67
1987First Round
Second Round		Seton Hall
La Salle		W 74–65
L 81–89
1993First RoundBoston CollegeL 83–87
2004Opening Round
First Round		Troy
Nebraska		W 87–83
L 70–78
2009First RoundRhode IslandL 62–68
2013First RoundMarylandL 72–86

CIT results

The Purple Eagles made their first appearance in the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament in 2018. Their record is 0–1
2018First RoundEastern MichiganL 65–83

Seasons

Niagara wins vs. the AP Top 25

YearOpponentScoreSite
1950–51#17 St.Bonaventure
  1. 7 St.Johns
W 72–57W 77–75Home
Away
1953–54#6 La Salle
  1. 16 La Salle
  2. 14 Dayton
  3. 4 Western Kentucky
W 74–66W 69–50
W 77-74
W 71-65		Home
Home
Neutral
Neutral
1954–55#14 Holy CrossW 72–68Away
1955–56#18 La SalleW 72-70Away
1957–58#16 Western KentuckyW 77-74 OTNeutral
1960–61#2 St. BonaventureW 87-77Away
1966–67#9 ProvidenceW 77-76Home
1969–70#6 Tennessee
  1. 7 Pennsylvania
W 69-68W 79-69Neutral
Neutral
1970–71#9 DrakeW 87-77Neutral
1984–85#4 St.JohnsW 62-59Home

Head coaches

*-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">National Basketball Association">NBA or National leagues