Merrimack College Warriors vs Niagara Purple Eagles Matchup

Read on to get betting odds and analysis in our Niagara vs Merrimack College NCAA Basketball prediction and preview and see who we think will win and cover the spread in North Andover.

Niagara vs Merrimack College Prediction

Betting on today's Purple Eagles and Warriors game? Catch the action at Hammel Court in North Andover, MA, as the Warriors hosts this showdown at 7:00 ET on ESPN+. The over/under for this game is set at 127.5 points, and Merrimack College is favored by -7.5 vs. Niagara in a Metro Atlantic Athletic conference matchup.

Niagara vs. Merrimack College Matchup At A Glance

Sport: NCAAB
Teams: Niagara Purple Eagles at Merrimack College Warriors
Where: North Andover at Hammel Court
Date: Thursday, February 6th
Betting Odds MERRI -7.5, NIAGRA +265 | MERRI -332 O/U 127.5

Purple Eagles Preview: Do the Purple Eagles Have What it Takes to Win as Road Underdogs?

Niagara Purple Eagles Recent Game/Games

Niagara improved to 7-13 on the season with a 64-63 win over Canisius on Friday. Despite being -3.5 favorites, the Purple Eagles didn’t cover the spread. The game’s total points of 127 fell under the O/U line of 136.5.

Niagara trailed 33-26 at halftime but turned things around in the 2nd half, outscoring Canisius 38-30 to secure the win.

Purple Eagles Offense Breakdown

Niagara's offense shot 51.1% from the field in their last game, with an effective field goal percentage of 57.4%. They hit 62.1% of their two-point attempts, but only 33.3% from beyond the arc, making 6 of 18 threes.

Paul McMillan IV led the way with 27 points and 4 assists, shooting 55% overall. Jahari Williamson was efficient, hitting 5 of 7 shots, including 3 of 5 from three-point range.

Purple Eagles Team Defense

Despite Niagara's defensive efforts, they allowed 63 points on 54% shooting from the field. The opposing team found success inside, hitting 56% of their two-point attempts, going 18/32.

From beyond the arc, Niagara's defense couldn't slow down the shooters, who connected on 50% of their threes, making 6/12. However, Niagara did limit damage at the free-throw line, where the other team shot just 52%, converting 9/17.

Warriors Preview: Can the Warriors Live Up to the Hype at Home?

Merrimack College Warriors Recent Game/Games

Merrimack improved to 12-10 on the season with a 66-64 road win over Rider on Sunday. The Warriors entered the game as 5-point favorites but didn’t cover the spread. The total points for the game hit 130, just over the O/U line of 128.5.

After trailing 38-37 at halftime, Merrimack tightened up defensively, holding Rider to 26 points in the second half while scoring 29 themselves to secure the win.

Warriors Offense Breakdown

Merrimack's offense put up 66 points in their last game, shooting 43.3% from the field. They struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 4 of 21 attempts for a 19% success rate, while their effective field goal percentage stood at 46.7%. Inside the arc, they were much more efficient, connecting on 56.4% of their two-point shots.

Adam Clark led the way with 22 points and 10 assists, though he missed all 3 of his three-point attempts. T.J. Weeks Jr. hit 4 threes, shooting 57.1% from deep, and finished with 14 points. Zion Cruz added 15 points, shooting 58.3% overall, while Bryan Etumnu and Jay Alvarez contributed 12 and 11 points, respectively, with Alvarez grabbing a team-high 8 rebounds.

Warriors Team Defense

Despite Merrimack's solid defensive effort, they allowed 64 points while the opposing team shot 45% from the field, making 24 of their 53 attempts. Inside the arc, the Warriors gave up 18 two-point baskets on 40 attempts, also at a 45% shooting rate.

From beyond the arc, Merrimack's defense saw the opposing team hit 6 of 13 three-point attempts, a 46% success rate. Additionally, they sent the other team to the free-throw line 10 times, where they converted all their attempts. Merrimack also allowed 10 offensive rebounds.

Purple Eagles vs Warriors Betting Odds, Trends & Analysis

In their last three games away from home, the Purple Eagles have a straight up record of 1-2 while going 0-3 vs. the spread. The team averaged 65 points per game in this stretch.
In their last five games at home, the Warriors have a straight up record of 4-1 while going 2-3 vs the spread. The team averaged 66 points per game in this stretch.
As the betting underdog, the Purple Eagles have an ATS mark of just 3-7 in their last ten games. Niagara posted a straight up mark of 0-10 in these matchups.
Through their previous three contests as the betting favorite, the Warriors have a strong record of 2-1. Their record vs the spread in these matchups is 1-2.