Niagara

The Niagara University Purple Eagles embody a rich and powerful basketball history, a tradition of giant-killing success, and the iconic spirit of their home overlooking Niagara Falls, New York. The university's golden age was forged on the hardwood, where future Hall of Famer Calvin Murphy led a high-powered team that became a national force, culminating in a legendary run to the 1970 NCAA Tournament's Sweet Sixteen. That era was the peak of a long history of excellence, a time when Niagara was a perennial postseason contender in both the NCAA Tournament and the prestigious NIT. In the modern era, the Purple Eagles have built a new legacy on the ice, where the men's hockey program has become a power in the Atlantic Hockey conference with multiple league championships and four trips to the NCAA Tournament. As a combatant in the historic "Little Three" rivalry, Niagara's competitive spirit is a cornerstone of its identity, on display inside the famed Gallagher Center. The Niagara Purple Eagles represent a small university with a history of major success, a program that continues to compete with the force and pride of a natural wonder.