Junior Juan Mendez scored a team-high 25 points vs. Iona Sunday.

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. – The jinx is over in New Rochelle. The Niagara University men’s basketball team (13-6, 7-3) snapped a 15-game losing streak in the Mulcahy Center against Iona College (7-13, 5-6) when it beat the Gaels, 97-91, Sunday afternoon in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game.

The Purple Eagles won just their second game at Iona in the 50-game series. Niagara last won in New Rochelle on Feb. 8, 1975, when the Purple Eagles beat the Gaels, 74-59.

"It’s one of those things when you look back on the season, you can say we finally beat Iona at Iona," Niagara head coach Joe Mihalich said. "It’s one of those things you can say you’ve done and be proud to have done it."

With Niagara leading 92-91 on a pair of junior Juan Mendez (Montreal, Quebec) free throws, Iona’s Greg Jenkins had his dunk attempt blocked by Mendez. Junior Alvin Cruz (Rio Pedras, Puerto Rico) snagged the rebound and then proceeded to sink one of two free throws for a 93-91 win.

Iona had six opportunities to score in the next 20 seconds, but the Gaels missed five free throws and a three-point attempt before senior Tremmell Darden (Las Vegas) sank two at the foul line with 15 seconds remaining. With six second left, Iona missed two layups and freshman Lorenzo Miles (Washington, D.C.) was fouled on the rebound and made two free throws for the final margin.

Niagara trailed by seven points with 7:44 left before going on a 17-7 run to take a three-point lead, 90-87, with 2:31 left. Iona regained the lead on a layup and two free throws before Mendez’s free throws that set up the final plays of the game.

Mendez finished with a game-high 25 points, including 12 of 15 from the free-throw line. Darden netted 24 points and was 11 of 12 from the foul line. Junior David Brooks (Philadelphia, Pa.) scored 20 points, hitting 5 of 8 from beyond the three-point arc. Also in double digits was Cruz with 15 points and seven assists.

The Purple Eagles led 48-44 at halftime after Niagara put together a 12-3 run over the final 2:40 of the half. Brooks sank two of his three first-half three-pointers; Darden added a baseline dunk and Mendez converted on a conventional three-point play.

Iona shot 60.3 percent from the field, but only 50 percent from the free-throw line. Niagara in contrast shot 45 percent from the floor, 80.5 percent from the foul line, made 10 steals and forced 19 turnovers.

Niagara returns to the friendly confines of the Gallagher Center when it hosts Marist Thursday at 7 p.m.