Senior Alvin Cruz netted a game- and season-high 21 points and became Niagara's career leader in assists Wednesday.

LEWISBURG, Pa. – Bucknell University’s Charles Lee hit an 18-foot jump shot with 0:00.09 seconds remaining to left the Bison to a 76-74 non-conference victory over Niagara University (6-4) Wednesday night at Sojka Pavilion.

Lee’s basket capped a seesaw game. Niagara had a 69-63 lead after senior Juan Mendez (Montreal, Que./Florida Air Academy) hit his third three-pointer of the game and made a layup with 6:36 left in the game. On Bucknell’s next possession, Mendez fouled out with 6:05 left.

The Bison (7-4) put together a 7-2 run over the next 4:17 to pull within one, 72-70. Senior Alvin Cruz (Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico/Florida Air Academy) then sank Niagara’s final basket of the game with 1:52 left to give the Purple Eagles a 74-70 lead.

Bucknell’s Kevin Bettencourt hit a pair of free throws with 1:19 remaining to make it a two-point game. Cruz missed a three-pointer on Niagara’s next possession and then Chris Niesz sank the game-tying jumper with 40 seconds left.

Niagara got the ball back and worked the clock down to :08 before sophomore Lorenzo Miles’ (Washington, D.C./Gonzaga) three-pointer missed and setup Lee’s game-winning shot.

The Purple Eagles had one last shot after Lee’s basket, but a long three-pointer by junior James Mathis (Newark, N.J./St. Benedicts) bounced off the side of the rim at the buzzer.

Cruz led Niagara in scoring with a game- and season-high 21 points. The point guard also had five assists to become the Purple Eagle’s career leader in assists (499).

Duffey posted his second career double-double with 11 points and a career-high 12 rebounds. Mendez finished with 18 points and senior David Brooks (Philadelphia, Pa./Abington) added 12 points.

Niagara shot 48.1 percent from the field, but only 61.5 percent from the free-throw line, including 52.6 percent in the second half.

The Purple Eagles return to action Dec. 30 when they host Fairfield University at 7 p.m. in the Gallagher Center.