Niagara University, NY (February 28, 2003) - The Niagara men's basketball team defeated Rider 78-72 in overtime before a crowd of 1,389 at the Gallagher Center. The Purple Eagles improve to 15-11 overall (11-6 MAAC) while the Broncs fall to 12-14 (7-10 MAAC).

"This was the best thing to happen to our team right before the playoffs," said head coach Joe Mihalich. "We were in every kind of situation tonight. We had a lead and lost it, we went into overtime, we had it all. It was a great effort by our guys."

Tremmell Darden led all scorers with 28 points, 12 of those coming in the first half. James Reaves netted 21 and Juan Mendez had 12 on the night.

Darden hit 13-of-15 from the free-throw line. David Brooks scored on three-of-six three-point tries and Mendez went six-of-10 from the field.

Rider was led in scoring by Laurence Young who had 13 points. Jerry Johnson and Robert Reed each had 12.

The game started out slow as only eight points were scored in the first five minutes of the game whereas the teams were tied at four. By the 10-minute mark of the first stanza Rider led by one, 14-13.

The biggest lead of the first for Rider came with 5:18 left when Reed scored on a lay-up to give the Broncs a seven point lead at 24-17. Niagara would chop away at that lead and tie the game at 24 just 1:04 later as Darden scored on a lay-up. The Purple Eagles would continue the scoring run for the rest of the half as Niagara outscored Rider 13-0 in the last 5:18 of the half. Niagara went into the half with a 30-24 lead.

In the second half, Niagara held the lead for the almost the entire half. The Purple Eagles had a seven point edge on the Broncs until Johnson hit two three-pointers to bring the games within one. Darden hit two free-throw shots with just 24-seconds remaining in the game. With just three ticks remaining on the clock, Robert Taylor hit a three to tie the game at 61 to end regulation.

In overtime, Reaves scored just 16-seconds in and Niagara would never lose the lead again. Niagara had an eight point lead twice in overtime.

Niagara will finish off the season at home against Marist on Sunday. Tip-off is set for 2:00 p.m. The game will mark Senior Day as Niagara will honor its basketball seniors.