Niagara Purple Eagles vs Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers Picks and Prediction for Friday, February 20, 2026
Use Code WWWC The Niagara Purple Eagles (7-19, 4-12 MAAC) face the Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers (12-15, 8-8 MAAC) at Knott Arena in Emmitsburg, Maryland, on Friday at 7:00 PM ET, with coverage on ESPN+. Niagara enters after a 70-68 home win over Iona, while Mount St. Mary's last played on February 13 and earned a 65-55 road win at Rider. Niagara looks to stop a three-game road slide against a Mountaineers team that has won three of its last four. Basketball glory awaits! Check out our top NCAAB picks for Niagara Purple Eagles vs Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers picks prediction.
Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers Looking to Hold Serve at Home
The Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers carry a 12-15 overall record and an 8-8 mark in MAAC play into this matchup. Mount St. Mary's has gone 6-5 at home and has played close to .500 basketball over the last 10 games, posting a 6-4 record while averaging 67.7 points and allowing 68.0 points per game.
In the most recent game, Mount St. Mary's beat Rider 65-55 on the road. That performance followed an 83-76 win at Iona and showed a steady defensive effort, holding Rider to 55 points after giving up 87 in a loss to Merrimack two games earlier. Mount St. Mary's scores 68.1 points per game on the season and shoots 44% from the field. Defensively, the Mountaineers allow 72.1 points per game and have been outscored by 4.0 points per contest overall.
Arlandus Keyes leads the Mountaineers with 11.7 points per game and scored 15 points in the January 19 meeting with Niagara, a 68-58 Mount St. Mary's win. Luke McEldon averages 5.8 rebounds per game, helping a Mount St. Mary's group that averages 36.7 rebounds per contest, a clear edge over Niagara’s 29.2. Over the last 10 games, Mount St. Mary's has shot 44.9% from the field, slightly above its season rate, while opponents have averaged 68.0 points.
Get Free $30 Credit for Premium Picks + Exclusive Discounts
Subscribe Now
Injuries: Anastasios Rozakeas, Jaxon Hartman, and Justin May are questionable
Niagara Purple Eagles Trying to Build on Narrow Win
The Niagara Purple Eagles enter at 7-19 overall and 4-12 in MAAC play. Niagara snapped a brief skid with a 70-68 home win over Iona on February 15. In that game, Niagara edged Iona by two points after losing three of the previous four contests.
Niagara has averaged 63.3 points per game this season while allowing 71.0 points. The Purple Eagles shoot 44% from the field, slightly above the 40.5% opponents of Mount St. Mary's have averaged. Over the last 10 games, Niagara is 3-7, averaging 63.2 points and allowing 65.1 points per game while shooting 45.4% from the field. That defensive number is lower than the season average, but most of that work has come at home.
The most recent meeting between these teams ended in a 68-58 Mount St. Mary's win on January 19. Will Shortt led Niagara with 10 points in that loss. Justin Page leads Niagara in scoring at 12.1 points per game while shooting 42.3% from the field and 79.5% from the free-throw line. Niagara averages 13.7 assists per game, matching Mount St. Mary's, but the Purple Eagles struggle on the glass compared to the Mountaineers.
Niagara is 4-12 in conference play and has gone 2-4 in games decided by fewer than four points. The current three-game road slide adds pressure, especially against a Mount St. Mary's team that has already beaten Niagara once this season.
Injuries: Niagara does not report any injuries.
Niagara Purple Eagles vs Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers Pick
Spread Pick for Niagara Purple Eagles vs Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers Picks
- Mount St. Mary’s (5 units)
Mount St. Mary's holds the statistical edge in rebounding at 36.7 per game compared to Niagara’s 29.2, and that gap showed up in the first meeting, a 68-58 Mount St. Mary's win. The Mountaineers have won three of the last four games and just held Rider to 55 points. Niagara is 4-12 in MAAC play and is on a three-game road slide. Mount St. Mary's has been stronger at home with a 6-5 record and carries more consistent recent form over the last 10 games.
Over/Under Pick for Niagara Purple Eagles vs Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers Picks
- Under (4 units)
Mount St. Mary's averages 68.1 points per game and Niagara averages 63.3. Over the last 10 games, Mount St. Mary's games have averaged 67.7 points scored by the Mountaineers and 68.0 allowed, while Niagara has averaged 63.2 points scored and 65.1 allowed. The first meeting finished with 126 total points in a 68-58 result. With Niagara on a road slide and Mount St. Mary's allowing 68.0 points per game over the last 10, the pace and scoring trends point toward a lower total.
Betting on College Basketball?
- Join Winners and Whiners premium for free and get a free $30 coupon with code FREE30
- Get started and wager on college hoops today with our favorite online sportsbooks
- Claim a CBB betting bonus offer with the best sportsbook promos
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win
New Users – Bet $5 Get $200 in Bet Reset Tokens for 5 Days
