Merrimack Warriors Defeat Niagara Purple Eagles 73-66
Sunday, March 1, 2026, 2:00 PM ET · Gallagher Center
Merrimack Warriors 73, Niagara Purple Eagles 66, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Merrimack Warriors vs Niagara Purple Eagles?
Merrimack Warriors beat Niagara Purple Eagles 73-66 at Gallagher Center on March 1, 2026.
Who was favored in Merrimack Warriors vs Niagara Purple Eagles?
Merrimack Warriors were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -355 (about 78% implied). The favorite won.
In a closely contested matchup, the Merrimack Warriors defeated the Niagara Purple Eagles 73-66 at the Gallagher Center. This victory marks Merrimack's continued dominance over Niagara, having won all three of their recent encounters, including two this season. The Warriors now hold a 3-0 record against the Purple Eagles in their last three meetings, with the previous games resulting in scores of 64-59 and 80-62 in favor of Merrimack.
Merrimack entered this game with a strong record of 21-10, having gone 8-2 in their last ten games, although they faced a setback with a loss in their most recent outing against Canisius. Their average scoring during this stretch was 72.8 points per game, while they allowed an average of 62.5 points. The Warriors have been particularly effective on the road, boasting a 3-2 record away from home.
In contrast, Niagara struggled throughout the season, finishing with an 8-22 record. Their recent form reflects a 3-7 record in their last ten games, though they managed to secure a win against Quinnipiac just days before this matchup. The Purple Eagles have averaged 65.7 points per game during this stretch, while allowing 68.6 points. Their home record stands at 3-3 in their last six home games, but they have struggled significantly on the road, going 0-4.
The game was characterized by a series of free throws in the second half, with key contributions from Ernest Shelton, Josiah Sabino, and Andrés Marrero, who helped Merrimack maintain their lead late in the game. Despite a late push from Niagara, including a layup from Justin Hawkins, they were unable to close the gap.
The betting market, as provided by DraftKings, had Merrimack favored by 7.5 points, with a total set at 126.5. The odds reflected a strong belief in Merrimack's ability to secure the win, as indicated by their -355 moneyline compared to Niagara's +280.
Conditions in the Gallagher Center were typical for a late-season college basketball game, with both teams battling for positioning as the season nears its conclusion. Fans witnessed a competitive atmosphere, underscored by the stakes for both teams. Merrimack's victory solidifies their position as a formidable opponent in the league, while Niagara continues to seek improvements as they finish the season.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | MRMK -7.5 | 126.5 o -110 / u -110 | Merrimack Warriors -355 · Niagara Purple Eagles +280 |
Leaders
- PointsJustin Hawkins18Niagara Purple Eagles
- AssistsJustin Hawkins4Niagara Purple Eagles
- ReboundsJustin Hawkins6Niagara Purple Eagles
- PointsErnest Shelton18Merrimack Warriors
- AssistsKevair Kennedy7Merrimack Warriors
- ReboundsKevair Kennedy5Merrimack Warriors
Recent form
Niagara Purple Eagles
Last 10: 3-7Streak W165.7 scored · 68.6 allowed per game3-3 at home
- W78-76vs Quinnipiac BobcatsFeb 27
- L62-67at Rider BroncsFeb 22
- L63-76at Mount St. Mary's MountaineersFeb 21
- W70-68vs Iona GaelsFeb 15
- L69-76vs Manhattan JaspersFeb 13
- L55-56at Quinnipiac BobcatsFeb 7
- W65-56vs Canisius Golden GriffinsFeb 3
- L46-58vs Marist Red FoxesFeb 1
- L79-82vs Siena SaintsJan 30
- L70-71at Sacred Heart PioneersJan 24
Merrimack Warriors
Last 10: 8-2Streak L172.8 scored · 62.5 allowed per game3-2 away
- L62-67at Canisius Golden GriffinsFeb 28
- W88-86vs Iona GaelsFeb 22
- W79-72vs Siena SaintsFeb 21
- W56-49at Quinnipiac BobcatsFeb 15
- W81-56vs Marist Red FoxesFeb 13
- W73-47at Rider BroncsFeb 8
- W87-70at Mount St. Mary's MountaineersFeb 6
- W75-58vs Sacred Heart PioneersFeb 1
- W67-59vs Saint Peter's PeacocksJan 24
- L60-61at Iona GaelsJan 23
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merrimack | 23-11 | - | 17-3 |
| Saint Peter's | 17-12 | 3 | 14-6 |
| Siena | 23-12 | 4 | 13-7 |
| Marist | 19-12 | 5 | 12-8 |
| Quinnipiac | 19-13 | 5 | 12-8 |
| Fairfield | 21-13 | 6 | 11-9 |
| Mount St. Mary's | 15-17 | 6 | 11-9 |
| Iona | 18-14 | 7 | 10-10 |
| Sacred Heart | 14-19 | 8 | 9-11 |
| Manhattan | 12-20 | 9 | 8-12 |
| Canisius | 10-21 | 12 | 5-15 |
| Niagara | 8-22 | 12 | 5-15 |
| Rider | 4-25 | 14 | 3-17 |
Box score
| Stat | Merrimack Warriors | Niagara Purple Eagles |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 25-53 | 21-44 |
| Field goal % | 47 | 48 |
| Three-pointers | 11-27 | 7-18 |
| Three-point % | 41 | 39 |
| Free throws | 12-13 | 17-19 |
| Free throw % | 92 | 89 |
| Rebounds | 25 | 27 |
| Offensive rebounds | 10 | 8 |
| Defensive rebounds | 15 | 19 |
| Assists | 15 | 14 |
| Steals | 5 | 8 |
| Blocks | 4 | 3 |
| Turnovers | 11 | 16 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 3 |
| Technical fouls | 1 | 1 |
| Technical fouls, total | 1 | 1 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 27 | 10 |
| Fast-break points | 9 | 7 |
| Points in the paint | 28 | 28 |
| Fouls | 16 | 16 |
| Largest lead | 21 | 8 |
| Lead changes | 3 | 3 |
| Time in front | 51 | 23 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half38-34Vice Zanki makes 25-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half41-34Ernest Shelton makes 23-foot three point jumper (Kevair Kennedy assists)
- 2nd Half41-36Josiah Sabino makes layup (Brian Griffith assists)
- 2nd Half41-38Kabeya Tshibangu makes layup (Landon Williams assists)
- 2nd Half42-38Kevair Kennedy makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half43-38Kevair Kennedy makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half43-40Kabeya Tshibangu makes 1-foot dunk (Drew Larson assists)
- 2nd Half46-40Todd Brogna makes 25-foot three point jumper (Kevair Kennedy assists)
- 2nd Half48-40Kevair Kennedy makes layup
- 2nd Half50-40Tye Dorset makes layup (Andrés Marrero assists)
- 2nd Half50-41Kabeya Tshibangu makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half52-41Dylan Veillette makes layup
- 2nd Half54-41Kevair Kennedy makes layup
- 2nd Half57-41Tye Dorset makes 25-foot three point jumper (Kevair Kennedy assists)
- 2nd Half59-41Dylan Veillette makes layup (Kevair Kennedy assists)
- 2nd Half62-41Tye Dorset makes 24-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half62-43Josiah Sabino makes layup
- 2nd Half64-45Tye Dorset makes layup
- 2nd Half62-44Drew Larson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half62-45Drew Larson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half64-48Landon Williams makes 23-foot three point jumper (Josiah Sabino assists)
- 2nd Half64-50Josiah Sabino makes 3-foot dunk
- 2nd Half67-50Andrés Marrero makes 24-foot three point jumper (Ernest Shelton assists)
- 2nd Half67-52Drew Larson makes layup
- 2nd Half67-53Justin Hawkins makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half67-54Justin Hawkins makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half67-55Justin Hawkins makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half67-56Justin Hawkins makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half67-59Reggie Prudhomme makes 27-foot three point jumper (Gael Dalmau assists)
- 2nd Half68-59Andrés Marrero makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half69-59Andrés Marrero makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half69-61Kabeya Tshibangu makes layup (Justin Hawkins assists)
- 2nd Half70-61Ernest Shelton makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half71-61Ernest Shelton makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half71-62Josiah Sabino makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half71-63Josiah Sabino makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half72-63Andrés Marrero makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half73-63Andrés Marrero makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half73-65Justin Hawkins makes layup (Reggie Prudhomme assists)
- 2nd Half73-66Justin Hawkins makes free throw 1 of 1
Win probability
Above the line favours Niagara Purple Eagles, below favours Merrimack Warriors.
Venue
- Gallagher CenterNiagara Falls, NY
- Attendance890
- OfficialsMatt Lavigne, Ed Corliss, Steven Perry Jr.
Elsewhere
- Carson Crawford, No. 46 in '27 class, commits to Arizona St.
- Tennessee's Ralph Scott to have knee surgery, out at least 6 months
- Men's NCAA basketball 2026-27 Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings
- Transfers, recruits and roster moves for key men's NCAA basketball teams
- Michigan 5-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. (knee) to miss season
- With $6.5 million left on deal, UCLA fires AD Martin Jarmond