Junior Juan Mendez had game highs of 35 points and 13 rebounds vs. Iona Sunday afternoon.

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – Junior Juan Mendez (Montreal, Quebec) scored 35 points and snared 13 rebounds to lift the Niagara University men’s basketball team (9-4, 3-1) to a 105-87 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference victory over Iona (4-9, 2-2) Sunday at the Gallagher Center.

Mendez made 10 of 16 field goals, including two three-point field goals, and all 13 of his free-throw attempts in the win. In his last three games, Mendez has made 37 of 38 foul shots.

Iona, behind the one-two punch of Steve Burtt (15 points) and DeShaun Williams (13 points), held a 44-43 lead at halftime. Niagara led for most of the half, including a 32-23 edge, but a Williams’ three-pointer gave the Gaels the halftime edge.

Mendez opened the second half with a three-point field goal to give the Purple Eagles a 46-43 lead. Mendez later hit two foul shots to give Niagara a 53-52 lead at 16:40 and it never trailed again. Junior David Brooks (Philadelphia, Pa.) scored Niagara’s next eight points to give it a 61-54 lead. Brooks finished with 22 points, including six three-point field goals. Brooks also made six three-pointers against Bucknell this season.

The Purple Eagles capped a 25-7 run when junior Alvin Cruz (Rio Pedras, Puerto Rico) sank a three-pointer from the top of the key to make it 74-59 with 11:13 to play. Cruz had nine points to go with 10 assists. While Iona cut the lead to eight points, the last being 80-72 with 8:13 remaining, but the Gaels could not get any closer.

Niagara, fueled by Mendez’s showing at the foul line, made 29 of its 32 free throws. The Purple Eagles sank 21 of their 23 second-half free throws.

Senior James Reaves (Rochester/Edison Tech) finished with 12 points and seven rebounds while senior Tremmell Darden (Las Vegas, Nev.) added 10 points.

Williams led Iona with 27 points while Burtt finished with 21 points.

Niagara returns to the road when it plays at Loyola, Md., Friday in an 8:30 p.m. game.