David Brooks

BRIDGEPORT, CONN - The Niagara University men’s basketball team faced the Fairfield Stags Monday afternoon in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action. Despite holding a 23-point lead with 14:40 left in the first half, the Purple Eagles dropped the game, 70-65.

The Purple Eagles opened the game with a 24-6 run to take an 18-point lead early in the first half. Junior David Brooks  (Philadelphia, Pa.) scored nine of his 12 first-half points in the run.

Fairfield’s DeWitt Maxwell scored a layup for two of his 11 first-half points to bring the Stags to within 17 points at 29-12. It was the smallest margin between the two clubs in the remainder of the first half, as Niagara shot 57.7 percent from the field, while limiting Fairfield to 25.9 percent.

Down 40-21 to start the second half, Fairfield put together a 19-6 run over the first seven minutes, rallying to within six at 46-40.

Fairfield took the lead on a three-pointer by Tyquawn Goode at the 5:24 mark and outscored Niagara 8-6 through the remainder of regulation to earn the 70-65 victory.

Brooks led the Purple Eagles with 17 points, while junior Juan Mendez (Montreal, Que.) finished with 16 points and senior Tremell Darden (Las Vegas, Nev.) totaled 11 points.

Fairfield’s Rob Thomson registered a game-high 21 points and 13 rebounds, helping the Stags to their largest comeback of the season.

The two teams are now tied at third in the MAAC standings, as the Stags improved to 16-9 overall and 9-5 in the MAAC, while Niagara stumbled to 15-8 overall and 9-5 MAAC.