2021-22 Monmouth Basketball Game Twenty Preview

Monmouth Hawks (13-6, 5-3 MAAC) vs. Niagara Purple Eagles (8-11, 3-7 MAAC)
Sunday, January 30, 2022 - 2:00 p.m.
OceanFirst Bank Center, West Long Branch, NJ

TV
ESPN3
Play-by-Play: Eddy Occhipinti
Analyst: Dave Calloway

MONMOUTH COVID-19 POLICIES

Monmouth University has announced its campus-wide indoor event COVID-19 policies.
 
The following policies are in effect until further notice:

1.    All fans 18 and over are required to provide proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test administered by a doctor's office or a clinic within 72 hours of the event time for indoor Athletic events. Home test kit results will not be accepted.
2.    All event audiences must wear a mask that completely covers the nose and mouth of the participant. Face shields are not acceptable. This includes fans from 2-17 years of age.
3.    Athletic events held in the OceanFirst Bank Center will be permitted to have food in the stands as long as masks remain on when the participant is not actively consuming food or beverages. Masks must be worn otherwise.
 
Men's and women's basketball season ticket holders will be mailed (and emailed) instructions on how to obtain a vaccine credential which will require them to show their vaccine cards once and receive a credential to speed up entrance to events. Season ticket holders who are not vaccinated will need to show proof a negative test within 72 hours of the event for every event attended.
 
Additionally, there will be separate entrances for students, season ticket holders and the general public. More information on those locations will be available on MonmouthHawks.com.

QUICK BULLETS
-Monmouth is playing its third of four straight home games today
-The Hawks came from behind in the final minutes to top Canisius Friday
-MU has won three games in a row
-Monmouth is playing just its fourth of 10 home MAAC contests tonight
-MU's four fifth-year seniors are all scoring in double-figures
-George Papas has earned two MAAC Player of the Week honors this season while Shavar Reynolds has one as well
-Monmouth is ranked #21 in this week's CollegeInsider Mid-Major Top 25
-George Papas was named to the Lou Henson Award Watch List
-MU's eight non-league wins tied for the most ever in school history
-This is MU's final regular season matchup with Niagara this season

A MONMOUTH WIN WOULD...
-mark Monmouth's 14th win of the season
-be the Hawks fourth win in a row
-move the Hawks three games over .500 in MAAC play at 6-3
-make Monmouth the second MAAC team to 14 victories
-be MU's 100th ever win in the MAAC
-be MU's third straight win at home
-mark Monmouth's 14th win as MAAC opponents against Niagara
-be the Hawks second win in a row over Niagara
-complete a Monmouth season sweep of Niagara
-move MU to 3-1 at home in league play

NOTES FROM THE LAST TIME OUT...
-Monmouth has won three in a row, all in the league.
-Walker Miller's four blocked shots is a career-high, and ties for the most by a Hawk this season (Myles Foster vs. Iona).
-MU's nine blocks as a team marked a season-high.
-George Papas posted his ninth career 20+ point game, and sixth this season.
-The win was Monmouth's 99th MAAC victory all time.
-MU sweeps the season series with Canisius, the first completed MAAC series of the season for Monmouth.
-MU limited Canisius to zero field goals in the final 5:23 and just two points total.
-Monmouth outshot 44% to 39%.
-MU was better in the paint 28-20.
-The game featured five ties and seven lead changes.
-Armon Harried led Canisius with 22 points.

MORE INFO ON THE ALL-TIME SERIES
-Monmouth leads the all-time series, 13-6
-In matchups as MAAC foes, MU leads 13-5
-Monmouth has won four of the last six in the series 
-The Hawks topped Niagara in Buffalo earlier this season, 57-49
-Monmouth has beaten Niagara in West Long Branch five of the last six times
-The teams met just once ever as non-league opponents, a 2008 Niagara win
-This is the final regular season meeting between the schools this season
-This marks the second MAAC series that Monmouth is completing this season
-MU is 5-1 against Niagara in West Long Branch all-time
-MU won nine in a row in the matchup between 2014 and 2017