| MATCHUP | Niagara Purple Eagles | Mt. St. Mary's Mountaineers |
|---|---|---|
| Team Records | 7-19 | 12-15 |
| Spread | +6.5 -105 | -6.5 -115 |
| Moneyline | +250 | -310 |
| Total | Over 129.5 (-115) | Under 129.5 (-105) |
| Where | Knott Arena, Emmitsburg, MD | |
| When | Friday, February 20, 2026 | |
| Time | 07:00 PM EST | |
| TV | ESPN+ | |
The Niagara Purple Eagles and the Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers meet Friday in college basketball action from Knott Arena. Here’s a Niagara vs Mount St. Mary’s prediction. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best Niagara vs Mount St. Mary’s pick. We will examine the recent form and player performances for both teams, as well as the recent betting trends and streaks pertaining to this matchup. As we conclude, we will tie it all together with a summary that produces a sensible pick for a favorable betting outcome in this game.
Niagara Purple Eagles Betting Preview
The Eagles were just 5-12 over their first 17 games this year. Things got worse from there as Niagara fell to Mount St. Mary’s, Fairfield, Sacred Heart, Siena and Marist in the next five before a win over Canisius. The next three were losses to Quinnipiac and Manhattan ahead of a win over Iona. In the first 26 games of the year that gives the Purple Eagles a 7-19 overall run.
On Sunday versus Iona, the Eagles were up by four points 34-30 going into the second half. Niagara hit a 38-36 deficit the rest of the way but managed to hang on for the victory on their home court 70-68 in the end. Brian Griffith posted 17 points with three assists and two rebounds along the way while Vice Zanki had 12 points with two rebounds and one assist in the win.
Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers Betting Preview
Over on the Mount St. Mary’s side, they were sitting at 6-12 over their first 18 games this year. The Mountaineers won four of the next six games over Canisius, Niagara, Rider and Manhattan. After another loss to Merrimack, Mount St. Mary’s won the next two versus Iona and Rider. That gives the Mountaineers a 12-15 record over the first 27 games this year.
Matched up against Rider last Friday the Mountaineers were sitting in the locker room looking up at a 28-21 edge on the scoreboard. Mount St. Mary’s kept it up from there on a 37-34 advantage and took the win in the end 65-55 in a road matchup. Abdou Khadre Kebe doubled up on 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Trey Deveaux had 12 points with five rebounds in the win.
Niagara Purple Eagles @ Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers Betting Trends: February 20, 2026
Why the Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers will win
- Niagara has lost eight of its last nine road games against Conference opponents.
- Mount St. Mary’s has won five of its last six games against Niagara.
- Mount St. Mary’s has won the first half in each of its last five games against non-AP-ranked opponents.
Why the Niagara Purple Eagles will win
- The road team has won each of Mount St. Mary’s’ last three games.
Niagara vs Mount St. Mary’s Prediction
I’ll lean toward the Mountaineers but I’m probably not touching this one. Mount St. Mary’s managed to get past a struggling Rider team in their last outing, shooting a nice 51 percent from the field with a 35-23 rebounding advantage. The Mountaineers only got to the line eight times though (making five) and had a whopping 18 turnovers along the way. Mount St. Mary’s has won three of the last four games, scoring 70 or more points in three of those four.
Back on January 19 in the last meeting between these two teams, Mount St. Mary’s pulled off a road victory 68-58. The Mountaineers shot pretty well in that one (44.2 percent) while giving up just 33.9 percent shooting on the other side. Mount St. Mary’s added a 28-20 advantage on points in the paint but did get out-rebounded slightly 34-32. The Mountaineers should be set up well for a victory in the home rematch if all goes to plan.