MOUNT ST. MARY'S (8-18, 4-11 MAAC) vs. NIAGARA (14-10, 9-6 MAAC)
Friday, February 17, 2023, 7:00 p.m.
Knott Arena | Emmitsburg, Md.
GAME NOTES (PDF) | LIVE STATS | WATCH on ESPN3 | TICKETS
MOUNT STORY LINES
- Mount St. Mary's was outlasted by Siena, 72-65, on Friday night at Knott Arena. Dakota Leffew led the Mount with 20 points while Jalen Benjamin added 16 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Trailing 48-47 midway through the second half, the Mount saw Siena go on an 8-0 to take a nine-point lead. The Mount fought back to pull within three in the final minute, but the Saints were able to hit free throws to seal the win.
- The Mountaineers fell at Niagara, 67-55, on New Year's Eve in the first meeting between the two teams this season. The Purple Eagles jumped out to a 27-15 lead, hitting seven three-pointers over that stretch. Niagara led 36-27 at the half, and the closest the Mount was able to get in the second half was eight points. Dakota Leffew led the Mount with 19 points. Noah Thomasson led Niagara with a game-high 22 points.
- Forward Malik Jefferson returned to the lineup on Feb. 10 against Siena after missing the previous nine games with a shoulder injury. Jefferson is averaging 6.0 points and 4.5 rebounds since his return. He has now appeared in 127 career games for the Mount, just four shy of matching Junior Robinson's mark of 131 set from 2014-18.
- Mount St. Mary's leads the MAAC in three-point field goal percentage in league play. The Mount is shooting 39.4 percent in the 15 MAAC games, averaging 7.1 three-pointers made per contest.
- Jalen Benjamin scored a team-high 22 points in the Mount's overtime loss at Fairfield on Sunday. It is the second time in three games that Benjamin has scored 20 or more in a game, and the third time over his past five outings. Benjamin is averaging 20.3 points and 5.0 rebounds over the past three games.
- Dakota Leffew has reached the 20-point plateau in each of the Mount's past two games, including a 21-point effort in the overtime loss at Fairfield. Leffew is averaging 20.5 points over the past two games, hitting 8-of-20 (.400) from three-point range.
- Up next, the Mountaineers continue their three-game homestand against Canisius on Sunday, February 19, at 2:00 p.m. Click HERE for tickets.
