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| MEDIA INFORMATION |
| Date |
Wednesday, December 23 | 6:00 p.m. |
| Location |
Niagara University, N.Y. | Gallagher Center |
| Tickets |
Purchase Tickets Online |
| TV |
Time Warner Cable |
| Video/Audio |
PurpleEagles.com/AStateRedWolves.com |
| Radio |
EAB Red Wolves Sports Net. 107.9 FM KFIN |
| Live Stats |
AStateRedWolves.com |
| Twitter |
@AStateMB |
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@AStateGameDay |
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@AStateRedWolves |
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#AStateMB |
| Game Notes |
A-State | Niagara
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| ARKANSAS STATE RED WOLVES |
| Record |
4-4, 0-0 Sun Belt Conference |
| Last Game |
67-58 Win vs. Marshall |
| Head Coach |
John Brady |
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Career: 384-311 (23 Seasons) |
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A-State Record: 103-95 (7 Seasons) |
| NIAGARA PURPLE EAGLES |
| Record |
1-7, 1-1 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference |
| Last Game |
88-62 Loss at Buffalo |
| Head Coach |
Chris Casey |
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Career: 97-114 (8 Seasons) |
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Record at school: 8-33 (2 Seasons) |
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QUICK HITS
A-State registered its first home win over a Division I opponent this season with a 67-58 victory over Marshall Saturday, Dec. 20. Anthony Livingston recorded 20 points and 20 rebounds in the game, marking the first time since Jeff Clifton scored 43 and grabbed 25 rebounds against UALR on Jan. 29, 1994 an A-State player scored 20 points and hauled in 20 rebounds.
Arkansas State improved to 3-0 against the Thundering Herd. The Red Wolves took the first meeting in the series back in the 1988-89 season (81-73) and took last season's meeting 83-82 in Huntington, W.Va. Saturday's win over Marshall was Arkansas State's first over a Conference-USA program since last year's win over the Thundering Herd. A-State improved to 111-142 (.439) versus schools currently in C-USA.
The Red Wolves outshot Marshall 36.8 percent (21-57) to 29.6 percent (21-71), but A-State fell behind 14-2 in the first half and trailed 32-27 at halftime. Arkansas State rallied in the second half and outscored the Thundering Herd 40-26 in the second half to earn the 67-58 win.
The 2014-15 campaign represents the program's 87th season as the Red Wolves have presently amassed a 1,146-1,081 all-time record (.515 win pct.) dating back their inaugural 1926-27 season. A-State has won at least 20 games in a season five times – 1986-87 (21-13), 1987-88 (21-14), 1988-89 (20-10), 1990-91 (23-9) and 1997-98 (20-9) since joining the NCAA-I ranks in 1970-71.
A-State's 19 victories in the 2013-14 season (19-13 record) tied for the second most single-season wins since 1997-98 and also marked a tie for the highest win total in head coach John Brady's A-State coaching career. The Red Wolves went 19-12 overall in 2012-13, which was the program's most wins since 1997-98 (20-9 record). A-State has achieved 17 wins or more in a campaign five of the last six seasons to date and the Red Wolves have posted a 90-78 record (.536) since the 2009-10 season.
A-State has compiled double-digit victories in 16 of the last 18 seasons. The Red Wolves have won at least 15 games or more on 11 occasions, which includes four of the last five seasons to date.
Arkansas State's contest with Niagara represents the final non-conference game of the season for the Red Wolves. A-State opens Sun Belt Conference play Dec. 30 at South Alabama. The Red Wolves host Appalachian State in their SBC home-opener on Jan. 3.
A-STATE/NIAGARA SERIES HISTORY
A-State and Niagara have only played once in history with that meeting happening last year in Jonesboro. The Red Wolves took an 86-61 decision over the Purple Eagles on Dec. 2, 2013. Arkansas State took a 45- 26 advantage at halftime and never looked back. A-State outshot the Purple Eagles 43.5 percent (27-62) to 31.7 percent (20-63) for the game. The Red Wolves outrebounded Niagara 48-36 and turned the ball over only 12 times compared to Niagara's 18. A-State also had nine steals to Niagara's five and the Red Wolves blocked seven shots, while the Purple Eagles didn't block a single shot.
The Red Wolves had three scorers in double figures with Kendrick Washington (16) leading the way, while Brandon Reed (15) and Raeford Worsham (14) also scored in double digits. Kirk Van Slyke and Ed Townsel just narrowly missed reaching double figures with nine points each. All 10 A-State players that played in the contest scored at least two points. Antoine Mason led the Purple Eagles with 20 points, while Marvin Jordan scored 14. Melvin Johnson III secured 10 rebounds to lead A-State, while Washington grabbed eight and had six assists.
Arkansas State currently sports a 3-3 record against teams from the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). A-State is 1-0 against Niagara and Canisius, 1-1 against Monmouth, and 0-1 against Siena and St. Peter's. The Red Wolves have never played Fairfield, Iona, Rider, Manhattan, Quinnipiac, and Marist.
LAST TIME OUT
Arkansas State defeated Marshall 67-58 in its final home non-conference game of the season Saturday, Dec. 20. The Red Wolves evened their record at 4-4 and have a chance to begin conference play with a winning record if the team can defeat Niagara Tuesday night in its final non-conference contest of the season.
Anthony Livingston had a monster game with 20 points and 20 rebounds to lead the Red Wolves in both categories. Sean Gardner scored 17 points and Cameron Golden had 14 to place themselves as A-State's only other double-digit scorers. Golden grabbed the second-most rebounds on the team (6), while PJ Hardwick and Livingston tied for the team lead in assists with four apiece. Livingston led the team with three blocks, while Kelvin Downs added the other block for the Red Wolves' defense. A-State outshot Marshall 36.8 percent to 29.1 percent for the game and outrebounded the Thundering Herd 49-43, including a 33-18 margin in the second half. A-State had 12 assists to Marshall's nine, but the Thundering Herd (13) committed one less turnover than the Red Wolves (14).
The Red Wolves' win over the Thundering Herd improved the team to 3-0 against Marshall all-time, while also improving their record against current Conference-USA teams to 111-142 (.439). However, that record reflects a number of times the Red Wolves played teams that are currently in C-USA that used to compete in the Sun Belt Conference.
SCOUTING NIAGARA
The Purple Eagles enter Tuesday's contest with a 1-7 record and 1-1 mark in the MAAC. Their lone win was in the second game of the season against Saint Peter's (61-59), but was an important game as their conference opener. Niagara dropped their second conference game of the season to Canisius 77-64 on Dec. 6. Their other losses have come at the hands of Pittsburgh, Hartford, St. Bonaventure, St. John's, Davidson, and Buffalo. Emile Blackman led the Purple Eagles with 15 points against Buffalo in their last game on Dec. 19, while Wesley Myers came off the bench to score 14. The Bulls outrebounded Niagara 48-27
Emile Blackman leads the Purple Eagles with a 12.3 points per game average, while Ramone Snowden is the only other scorer to average double figures with a 10.5 points per game mark. Snowden leads the team in rebounding with a 7.5 rebounds per game average, but the next highest mark on the team is Rayvon Harris with a 4.8 average. Karonn Davis leads the team with a 2.3 assists per game mark, Harris leads the team with a 0.6 blocks per game average, and Snowden is first on the squad with a 1.5 steals per game mark.
Head coach for Niagara is Chris Casey, who is in his second season as the head man of the Purple Eagles. He has an 8-33 record with Niagara and is 97-114 overall which includes stints in Division II and Division III.
20/20: Sophomore forward Anthony Livingston accomplished a feat that no A-State player had done since the 1993-94 season. He scored 20 points and grabbed 20 rebounds against Marshall, while also tying for the team lead with four assists and leading the team with three blocked shots. It was the first time since Jan. 29, 1994 that an A-State player had scored 20 points and had 20 rebounds. On that date, A-State's Jeff Clifton tallied 43 points and had 25 boards against UALR. He was named the College Sports Madness SBC Player of the Week for his efforts in that game and against Mississippi State (eight points and seven rebounds).
Living-strong: Anthony Livingston has had little problems adjusting to Division I basketball after transferring from San Jacinto Junior College. He's led the team in scoring five of the team's first eight games and has two of A-State's three double-doubles this season. He leads A-State in points per game (16.5), rebounds per game (8.3), field-goal percentage (53.3 percent), and blocks per game (1.4). The PPG mark ranks as fourth in the conference and 115th in the nation, while the field-goal percentage is fifth in the SBC and 81st in the country. His RPG mark is third in the conference and 67th in the nation, while his defensive rebounds per game average of 6.25 is first in the conference and 35th in the nation.
Gardner's Great Aim: Redshirt junior guard Sean Gardner scored a game-high 22 points against Mississippi State and hit four key three-pointers in the second half to lead A-State to its 69-55 win. He was 8-14 from the field overall and 5-10 from beyond the arc. He also grabbed five rebounds on the night. Gardner was also a key component of A-State's 67-58 win over Marshall Saturday as he scored 17 points. He is third on the team in scoring with a 13.9 PPG average, while his 39.6 percent mark from three is second in the SBC and 70th in the nation.
The Golden Rule: Junior guard Cameron Golden was third on the squad with 14 points against Marshall and is second on the team with a 14.8 PPG average. That mark ranks him ninth in the conference. He is team's leader in steals with a 2.0 SPG mark, a total that ranks fifth in the SBC and 72nd in the nation. He is second on the team in assists per game with 3.6, an average that ranks sixth in the SBC.
Passing with PJ: A-State RS-sophomore guard PJ Hardwick is first on the team with 31 assists (5.2 APG), despite missing the first two games of the season due to injury. The 5.2 mark is second in the conference and 52nd in the nation.
Nouhoum, No Problem: A-State junior center Nouhoum Bocoum has drawn three consecutive starts since coming off the bench in the first five games of the season. He has scored 13 points in back-to-back starts and grabbed a game-high eight rebounds in the win over Mississippi State. Bocoum also has one of the team's double-doubles this season with a 10-point, 10-rebound effort against Purdue off the bench. He is fourth on the team in scoring (7.8 PPG) and second in rebounding (6.1 RPG).
Doubling Up: A-State has had at least three players score in double figures in seven of its eight games this season, with the only exception being the Purdue contest. A-State had three scorers in double figures against Marshall with Anthony Livingston's 20 leading the way. Sean Gardner scored 17 and Cameron Golden poured in 14 points against the Thundering Herd.
No Rest For the Weary: Cameron Golden, Anthony Livingston, and Sean Gardner are all in the top-10 in minutes played in the Sun Belt Conference. Golden is third with 35.22 per game average, while Livingston and Gardner are tied for fifth with 34:07. Golden's mark also ranks 51st in the nation with Livingston and Gardner's marks checking in at 96th.
National and SBC Rankings: A-State is fourth in the conference and 31st in the nation in fewest turnovers with 112, and the Red Wolves are fourth in the SBC and 99th in the country in defensive rebounds with 25.63 per game.
Brady's Homecoming A Success: A-State head coach John Brady returned to Mississippi State Wednesday night and came away with a 69-55 win. He earned his master's degree from Mississippi State and was a graduate assistant coach for the Bulldogs in 1977. After a high school head coaching stint, Brady returned to Mississippi State as an assistant coach and was with the Bulldogs for eight seasons from 1982-90. He served as the primary recruiter for head coach Richard Williams the last four years of his tenure.
Career High For Cali: Sophomore guard Daijon Macklien (nicknamed Cali because his home state is California) played a career-high 21 minutes against Toledo and scored a career-high seven points by connecting on two three-pointers and adding a free throw. He also added two assists and a steal against the Rockets.
Number 100: Arkansas State head coach John Brady recorded his 100th win as A-State's head coach with the 67-49 victory over UCA on December 1. He became the fifth coach to register at least 100 wins at Arkansas State joining John Rauth, Nelson Catalina, Dickey Nutt, and Marvin Adams. Adams is the coach above Brady with 111 wins that he tallied from 1976-84.
Did You Know?: Sophomore guard Daijon Macklien played football at NCAA Divsion II North Alabama in the 2012 season ... Sean Gardner and junior forward Charles Waters are stepbrothers ... Nouhoum Bocoum wears size 18 shoes ... Cameron Golden has switched his jersey number to one for this upcoming season after wearing zero this past 2013-14 campaign.
Close Ties: Guard Josh Pierre's father, Butch, will embark on his seventh season as the associate men's basketball head coach at Oklahoma State University. Butch spent 11 seasons (1997-08) at LSU as a member of current A-State head coach John Brady's staff, including six as an associate head coach. Josh has a twin brother, Joseph III. Pierre doubled his points production last season by tallying 12 points in eight games after netting six points in four appearances for the 2012-13 campaign.
