Junior James Mathis had career highs of 13 points and 13 rebounds in the win over Canisius Wednesday.

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Senior Juan Mendez (Montreal, Que.) scored a game-high 30 points to lead four Niagara University (4-1, 1-0) players in double figures in an 87-82 victory over Canisius College (1-2, 0-1) Wednesday at the Koessler Athletic Center.

In the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference opener for both teams, Mendez registered his third 30-plus point game of the season and seventh of his career. Junior James Mathis (Newark, N.J.) came off the bench for career highs of 13 points and 13 rebounds. Sophomore Lorenzo Miles (Washington, D.C.) netted a career-high 17 points and freshman Charron Fisher (Pennsauken, N.J.) tallied a personal-best 12 points off the bench.

With Niagara leading by one, 77-76, with 3:33 left in the second half, Mendez hit a pair of free throws to push the lead to three. After a defensive stop, the Purple Eagles pushed their lead to five when senior David Brooks (Philadelphia, Pa.) grabbed a blocked putback attempt by Mendez and scored with 2:14 remaining.

Canisius made it a one-possession game after Dewitt Doss hit a pair of free throws with 51.3 seconds left, making it 81-78.

Niagara secured the win when Mathis hit one of two free throws, and Brooks made a steal and layup to make it 84-78 with 17.7 seconds left.

Doss led Canisius with 22 points. Kevin Downey had 21 points.

The Purple Eagles continue their two-game road swing when they travel to Baltimore, Md., to meet the Loyola Greyhounds at 5 p.m. Sunday in Reitz Arena.