Niagara Purple Eagles men's basketball
Encyclopedia
The Niagara Purple Eagles men's basketball team is the college basketball
team that represent Niagara University
in Lewiston
, New York
, United States. The school's team currently competes in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
. The Purple Eagles are currently coached by Joe Mihalich
.
They last played in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament in 2007
.
They played in the National Invitation Tournament
on 13 occasions, losing the final game against Maryland
in 1972.
The team formerly played at the now-defunct Niagara Falls Convention and Civic Center
.
. Their combined record is 2–4.
Purple Eagles in the NBA
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
team that represent Niagara University
Niagara University
Niagara University is a Catholic university in the Vincentian tradition, located in the Town of Lewiston in Niagara County, New York. Originally founded by the Congregation of the Mission in 1856 as Our Lady of Angels Seminary, it became Niagara University in 1883. The University is still run by...
in Lewiston
Lewiston (town), New York
Lewiston is a town in Niagara County, New York United States. The population was 16,262 at the 2010 census. The town and its contained village are named after Morgan Lewis, a governor of New York....
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, United States. The school's team currently competes in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the northeastern United States. MAAC teams compete in the NCAA's Division I. Most of the members are Catholic or formerly Catholic institutions; the only exception is the private but secular Rider...
. The Purple Eagles are currently coached by Joe Mihalich
Joe Mihalich
Joe Mihalich is an American college basketball coach and the current head men's basketball coach at Niagara University.Mihalich was named head coach in 1998. Niagara went to two NCAA tournaments in 2005 and 2007 and two National Invitational Tournaments in 2004 and 2009.-References:...
.
They last played in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament in 2007
2007 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2007 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 NCAA schools playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball as a culmination of the 2006–07 basketball season...
.
They played in the National Invitation Tournament
National Invitation Tournament
The National Invitation Tournament is a men's college basketball tournament operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. There are two NIT events each season. The first, played in November and known as the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off , was founded in 1985...
on 13 occasions, losing the final game against Maryland
Maryland Terrapins men's basketball
The Maryland Terrapins men's basketball team represents the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I competition...
in 1972.
The team formerly played at the now-defunct Niagara Falls Convention and Civic Center
Niagara Falls Convention and Civic Center
Niagara Falls Convention and Civic Center was an indoor multi-purpose venue, in Niagara Falls, New York, with a capacity of 10,000 people.The venue was built as part of an urban renewal project in the city. It actually was built in the center of a main thoroughfare, Falls Street, and blocked...
.
NCAA Tournament results
The Purple Eagles have appeared in three NCAA TournamentsNCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
. Their combined record is 2–4.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result/Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 1970 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1970 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 25 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 7, 1970, and ended with the championship game on March 21 in College Park, Maryland... |
First Round Sweet Sixteen Regional Third Place Game |
Pennsylvania Villanova North Carolina State |
W 79–69 L 98–73 L 108–88 |
| 2005 2005 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 2005 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 15, 2005, and ended with the championship game on April 4 at the Edward Jones Dome in St... |
First Round | Oklahoma | L 84–67 |
| 2007 2007 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 2007 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 NCAA schools playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball as a culmination of the 2006–07 basketball season... |
Opening Round First Round |
Florida A&M Kansas |
W 77–69 L 107–67 |
Head coaches
| Name | Years | Seasons | Wins | Losses | Pct |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joe Mihalich Joe Mihalich Joe Mihalich is an American college basketball coach and the current head men's basketball coach at Niagara University.Mihalich was named head coach in 1998. Niagara went to two NCAA tournaments in 2005 and 2007 and two National Invitational Tournaments in 2004 and 2009.-References:... |
1998-2011 | 13 | 231 | 168 | 0.579 |
| 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 Frank Layden Frank Layden is a retired American basketball coach and executive of the NBA's Utah Jazz.-Coaching career:In additional to his coaching at the professional level, Layden is also a former head coach and player of his alma mater Niagara University's basketball team... |
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 |
Purple Eagles in the NBANational Basketball AssociationThe National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
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- Al ButlerAl ButlerElbert J. "Al" Butler was an American basketball player.He played collegiately for the Niagara University....
- Larry CostelloLarry CostelloLawrence Ronald "Larry" Costello was an American professional basketball player and coach....
- Boo EllisBoo EllisAlexander "Boo" Ellis was an American professional basketball player for the Minneapolis Lakers of the National Basketball Association . Ellis played in the league for just the and seasons and averaged 5.1 points 5.2 rebounds per game.Ellis grew up in Hamilton, Ohio and attended...
- Bo Erias
- Ed Fleming
- Manny LeaksManny LeaksEmanuel Leaks Jr. is an American former professional basketball player.A 6'8" forward/center, Leaks played at Niagara University from 1965 to 1968...
- Calvin Murphy
- Zeke SinicolaZeke SinicolaEmilio "Zeke" Sinicola was an American basketball player. He played on the collegiate level at Niagara University and was a NCAA Men's Basketball All-American. In the early 1950s he played for the Fort Wayne Pistons of the National Basketball Association.-References:...
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- Andy Walker