Play-in Game ( Florida A&M vs Niagara ) Breakdown

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Niagara

Best Player: G/F Charron Fisher leads the way with his 21 ppg and 8.1 rpg. While he was suspended for the first 8 games of the year for fighting in August, the Purple Eagles went 2-6.

Overview: As mentioned before, Niagara got off to a rough start without Fisher, but have been hot down the stretch winning 13 of their last 14 and 11 straight. They start and play all guards/small forwards which could give some bigger teams, like Kansas, matchup problems. Even with their small lineup, Niagara rebounds very well. They're top 35 in the country in RPG, D-REB%, and REB% along with first in their conference in all three. The Purple Eagles play a very up and down, fast paced tempo which leads to many transition points for the opposing team. They need to lock their defense down to avoid the earliest exit of them all.

Florida A&M

Best Player: F Rome Sanders ( 15.3 ppg, 5.9 rpg ) will pose problems for Niagara on the interior with his size. He's an adept scorer ( 65% FG%, 76% FT% ) having scored 20+ points ten times this season.

Overview: Like Niagara, other than Sanders and Alabama transfer Akini Adkins ( who plays very little ), they play all small forwards and guards who can really rebound the ball. That also translates into a more uptempo style that isn't exactly commonplace in the MEAC. Unlike the Purple Eagles, they actually play defense leading the MEAC in FG% defense and most key rebounding categories.

Prediction:

Niagara 80 Florida A&M 75

While many thought Florida A&M would wind up in the play-in game after their buzzer beater win in the MEAC championship over Delaware State, it was a shock that Niagara could even wind up being a 16 seed - much less actually facing Florida A&M on Tuesday. If the Rattlers can defend the perimeter well, something they aren't very good at doing, or Niagara goes cold from behind the arc, Florida A&M has a good shot. They have a huge advantage in the paint with Rome Sanders and Niagara must find a way to neutralize him.