On his 22nd birthday, senior Tremmell Darden scored a career high 35 points to help Niagara defeat St. Bonaventure.

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – Senior Tremmell Darden scored nine of his career-high 35 points in overtime Wednesday night to lift Niagara University to a 107-98 non-conference victory over Saint Bonaventure at the Gallagher Center. The overtime win was the second of the season for Niagara, now 5-1.

Darden (Las Vegas) hit a three-point field goal from the corner with the shot clock winding down to give the Purple Eagles a 91-86 lead at 3:46 of the extra session. Darden then sank a pair of foul shots before junior David Brooks (Philadelphia, Pa.) added a three-point field goal and two free throws of his own to give Niagara a 98-91 lead with 1:49 to play. Darden sank four more free throws in overtime for his career-high total.

The win snapped an 11-game losing streak to St. Bonaventure and was the first win for the Purple Eagles over the Bonnies in the Gallagher Center since Jan. 12, 1963.

After Saint Bonaventure opened a 5-2 lead, Niagara went on a 15-0 run for a 17-5 advantage after a Darden dunk. Darden scored seven of Niagara’s first 17 points. The Bonnies came back to make it 45-39 at the half behind 17 points by Marques Green. Green finished the game with a career-best 43 points.

The Purple Eagles scored the first 13 points of the second half for a 58-39 lead after another Darden basket. But once again, Saint Bonaventure came back and tied the game 71-71 on a layup by Green at 6:41. The teams traded baskets for the rest of regulation. Niagara’s final points came on a basket by junior Juan Mendez (Montreal, Quebec) while the Bonnies’ points came via two Green free throws.

Then came overtime and the one-two punch of Darden and Brooks took over to carry Niagara.

Mendez finished with 28 points while Brooks had 18 points and 10 rebounds. Junior Alvin Cruz (Rio Pedras, Puerto Rico) scored 10 points to go with nine assists and senior James Reaves (Rochester) scored 12 points and blocked three shots.

Niagara plays at Yale Saturday in a 3 p.m. contest.