Junior David Brooks had a career high 28 points in Niagara's win over Siena Saturday afternoon.

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – Junior David Brooks (Philadelphia, Pa.) scored a career- and game-high 28 points to power Niagara (4-0, 2-0) to an 86-81 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference victory over Siena (3-3, 0-2) in front of 5,373 fans at Pepsi Arena in Albany, N.Y. The Purple Eagles are off to their best start since starting the 1980-81 season 4-0.

Brooks made five three-point field goals, including four in the first half, and went 7 of 10 from the free-throw line. He was one of four Purple Eagles to score in double figures as fellow starters Tremmell Darden (Las Vegas) scored 16 points, James Reaves (Rochester, N.Y) scored 14 points and Alvin Cruz (Rio Pedras, Puerto Rico) netted 10 points.

Niagara took a 12-point lead, 67-55, on a three-pointer by freshman Lorenzo Miles (Washington, D.C.) with 9:09 left in the game. Siena made a 10-2 run to pull within two points, 74-72, but the Purple Eagles took a five-point lead when Brooks was fouled on a three-point attempt and knocked down all three free throws. Niagara built an eight-point lead, 83-75, with a 6-3 run. Darden scored four of his 16 second-half points during the run.

The Saints responded with three points before Brooks sank the second of a two-shot foul with 13.4 left. Michael Haddix, who finished with a team-high 26 points for Siena, converted a three-point play with 4.3 left to pull within three, 84-81. Darden sealed the win for Niagara though with a pair of free throws with 3.2 left in the game.

Niagara jumped out to an 8-0 run to open the first half. Siena responded with a 7-0 run of its own to pull within four, 11-7.

The Saints took their only lead of the half when they turned the four-point deficit into a nine-point lead, 26-17. Austin Andrews scored all five of his first-half points during the 16-2 run.

Niagara came back with 5:13 left in the half by going on a 27-5 run to close the half. Brooks scored 10 of his 19 first-half points during the run. He finished the half with 19 points, including four treys.

The Purple Eagles, who made 10 three-pointers in the game, also had six blocks. Cruz finished with nine assists and Juan Mendez (Montreal, Quebec), Cruz and Darden each finished with eight rebounds.

Niagara returns to action Dec. 13 when it hosts Buffalo at 7:30 p.m. in the Gallagher Center.