SCORE: Quinnipiac 81, Niagara 78
RECORDS: Quinnipiac (5-8, 2-1 MAAC), Niagara (4-10, 1-2 MAAC)
LOCATION: Gallagher Center – Niagara University

NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The Niagara Purple Eagles opened 2017 with an 81-78 setback to the Quinnipiac Bobcats on Monday night in their conference home opener.
 
Game Summary
A late surge by Quinnipiac helped the Bobcats escape the Gallagher Center with an improbable win.
 
Both teams exchanged flurries in the first half which had six ties and eight lead changes. With the score knotted at 36-36 with 1:49 left, the Purple Eagles closed the half on a 5-1 spurt with Kahlil Dukes and Chris Barton providing the points.
 
Niagara sprinted to a 53-39 lead four minutes into the second half behind a 12-2 run. Niagara led 73-61 with 5:40 remaining when Quinnipiac engineered its comeback. The Bobcats scored 12 straight points at one point during the run to take a 77-76 lead with 57 seconds left.
 
On Niagara's next possession, Dukes made an acrobatic layup to put the Purple Eagles ahead, 78-77, with 38 seconds remaining. Quinnipiac's Mikey Dixon answered on the next possession with a jumper in the paint with 23 seconds on the clock. On the en suing possession, Matt Scott was called for an offensive foul as Niagara was unable to get a shot off. After a pair of free throws by Quinnipiac increased its lead to 81-78, Scott's game-tying 3-pointer rimmed out in the final seconds.
 
Eagle's Eye On…

• Chris Barton scored a season-high 15 points on 5 of 6 shooting from the field, including going 4-for-4 from behind the 3-point line to tie a career high.
• Marvin Prochet scored 15 points, with 10 coming in the first half, to share game-high honors.
• Kahlil Dukes scored 13 points and dished out a game-high eight assists.
• Dominic Robb added 13 points, grabbed eight rebounds, and had one block.
• Matt Scott scored nine points and shared game-high marks in rebounds with eight.

 
Inside The Numbers

• Five players scored in double figures for the first time this season.
• Niagara made a season-high 12 3-pointers.
• Niagara led for 29:34.

 
Up Next

• The Purple Eagles welcome Siena to the Gallagher Center on Wednesday, Jan. 4 at 7 p.m.
• The game will air on Time Warner Cable SportsChannel, WGR 550 AM and on the Niagara Sports Network via PurpleEagles.com.
• For ticket information, contact the Niagara Athletic Ticket Office at 716-286-TIXX, tickets@Niagara.edu or www.PurpleEagles.com/Tickets.

Stay connected with the Purple Eagles through social media. Follow Niagara Athletics on Twitter @NUPurpleEagles and for men's basketball updates at @NiagaraMBB. Check in with the Purple Eagles on Facebook/PurpleEagles and on Instagram @NUPurpleEagles