Juan Mendez registered his fifth 30-plus point game of his career Saturday night.

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – Fueled by 30 points from senior Juan Mendez (Montreal, Quebec/Florida Air Academy), the Niagara University men’s basketball team picked up a 78-71 win over American University Saturday night at the Gallagher Center.

Niagara, which improves to 1-1, had three other players in double figures. Senior David Brooks (Philadelphia/Abington) added 18 points while classmate Alvin Cruz (Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico/Florida Air Academy) recorded 13 points and sophomore Lorenzo Miles (Washington, D.C./Gonzaga) netted 11 points. Miles and Brooks each made three three-point field goals.

Cruz sank a three-pointer to give the Purple Eagles a 61-59 lead with 9:54 remaining in the game. Following a tying basket by American’s Andre Ingram, Miles sank a pair of three-pointers to spark an 11-2 run which gave Niagara a 72-63 lead.

The Purple Eagles sank 6 of 8 free throws to close the game and record the win.

Until Niagara’s late run, the game went back-and-forth as the lead changed eight times. The Purple Eagles shot 52.2 percent (12-23) in the second half, including a 55.6 percent mark (5-9) from beyond the three-point arc.

Matej Cresnik’s 17 points led American (0-2). Raimondas Petrauskas and Ryan Graham added 16 and 12 points, respectively.

Mendez snared nine rebounds and made a career-high tying six steals while registering his fifth 30-plus point game of his career. Niagara forced American into committing 14 turnovers.

The Purple Eagles play Central Connecticut State at 7 p.m. Monday at the Gallagher Center.