Iona vs Niagara 12/2/22 College Basketball Picks, Predictions, Odds

The Niagara Purple Eagles and Iona Gaels meet Friday in college basketball action at the Hynes Athletics Center. The Niagara Purple Eagles look to get above a .500 record. The Iona Gaels look to get above a .500 record.

The Niagara Purple Eagles are averaging 66.5 points on 44.8 percent shooting and allowing 66 points on 41 percent shooting. Noah Thomasson is averaging 16.2 points and 3.7 assists, while Aaron Gray is averaging 9.2 points and 5.8 rebounds. Sam Iorio is dishing 2.2 assists and Braxton Bayless is grabbing 4.8 rebounds. The Niagara Purple Eagles are shooting 36.6 percent from beyond the arc and 71.8 percent from the free throw line. The Niagara Purple Eagles are allowing 35.7 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 32.7 rebounds per game.

The Iona Gaels are averaging 75.8 points on 46.2 percent shooting and allowing 67.3 points on 43.8 percent shooting. Quinn Slazinski is averaging 18 points and 7.5 rebounds, while Daniss Jenkins is averaging 17 points and 4.3 rebounds. Walter Clayton Jr. is the third double-digit scorer and Berrick JeanLouis is grabbing 4 rebounds. The Iona Gaels are shooting 34.1 percent from beyond the arc and 73.2 percent from the free throw line. The Iona Gaels are allowing 32.9 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 30.8 rebounds per game.

The Purple Eagles are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 road games and 2-5 ATS in their last 7 Friday games. The Gaels are 15-7 ATS in their last 22 home games and 1-5 ATS in their last 6 Friday games. The under is 6-1 in Gaels last 7 home games. The underdog is 6-1-1 ATS in the last 8 meetings.

The Niagara Purple Eagles aren’t good, but they’re coming off their best game of the season, where they gave St John’s a run. The Iona Gaels have been hit or miss through 4 games, and they’ve looked sloppy in their two biggest games on the schedule. Iona should win at home, but Niagara shoots from the outside well enough to hang around here. I’ll take my chances with the points.