LIU Sharks vs Niagara Purple Eagles NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 12/1/24
Don’t miss out on the NCAA showdown between the Sharks and Purple Eagles. The game is starting at 12:00 ET on NEC, and it’s hosted by the Purple Eagles at Kirby Sports Center in Easton, PA. Get ready to place your bets! This non-conference matchup has an over/under of 139 points, and Niagara is favored by -2.5 vs. LIU.
LIU SHARKS VS NIAGARA PURPLE EAGLES BETTING PICK
The Pick: Niagara Purple Eagles -2.5
This game will be played at Kirby Sports Center at 12:00 ET on Sunday, December 1st.
WHY BET THE NIAGARA PURPLE EAGLES:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 78-69 in favor of the Purple Eagles.
- Not only will Niagara pick up the win, but look for them to cover at -2.5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 139 points, and we like the over with a projected 147 points.
Can LIU Lock in a Road Win?
LIU’s recent 75-70 loss to Binghamton on Saturday dropped them to 0-3 on the season. The Sharks were +1 point underdogs going into the game and failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game reached 145, exceeding the pre-game O/U line of 135.
LIU led 32-24 at halftime but struggled in the second half, scoring just 27 points while allowing 35. This inability to maintain their lead after the break has been a recurring issue for the Sharks early in the season.
In their last game, the LIU Sharks put up 70 points, shooting 40.3% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 45.2%. They struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 22.2% of their threes (6/27), while connecting on 54.3% of their two-point attempts (19/35). At the free-throw line, they made 14 of 23 shots, good for 60.9%.
Nehemiah Benson led the way with 28 points, shooting 77.8% from the field. Jamal Fuller added 27 points and 10 rebounds, hitting 3 of 6 from three-point range. Tymu Chenery also knocked down 3 threes, shooting 60% from deep and finishing with 18 points. Terell Strickland contributed 17 points and 8 assists, while Malachi Davis struggled, hitting just 1 of 10 from three and 4 of 19 overall.
Even with LIU allowing 75 points, their defense struggled, giving up 50% shooting from the field. The Sharks were particularly vulnerable inside, where they allowed 63% shooting on two-point attempts, with the opposing team hitting 19 of 30 shots.
LIU did manage to limit damage from beyond the arc, holding their opponent to 25% shooting on threes, with just 4 makes on 16 attempts. However, they sent the other team to the free-throw line 38 times, where they converted 25 free throws at a 65% clip. The Sharks also gave up 6 offensive rebounds.
Can Niagara Live Up to the Hype at Home?
Niagara’s season continued with a 59-47 road loss to Lafayette on Saturday. Entering the game as +4 underdogs, the Purple Eagles not only lost but failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game (106) fell well short of the O/U line of 135.
Niagara trailed 21-18 at halftime but struggled defensively in the 2nd half, allowing 38 points while scoring 29 of their own.
Niagara’s offense struggled mightily in their last game, putting up just 47 points on 25.4% shooting from the field. Their effective field goal percentage was only 27.1%, and they hit just 3 of 26 attempts from beyond the arc, shooting 11.5% from three-point range.
Despite their shooting woes, the Purple Eagles were solid from the free-throw line, making 14 of 17 attempts for an 82.4% success rate. Justin Vander Baan and Zion Russell each scored 11 points, with Vander Baan adding 8 rebounds and 1 assist.
Niagara’s defense was dominant, holding their opponent to just 59 points on 31% shooting from the field. They limited two-point opportunities, with the other team making only 12 of 33 attempts, a 36% success rate.
From beyond the arc, Niagara’s defense kept the pressure on, allowing just 7 threes on 27 attempts, a 25% shooting performance. They also gave up 17 free-throw attempts, with the opponent converting 14 of them for 82%.