Senior Alvin Cruz scored a career-high 26 points in Niagara's win over Saint Peter's Thursday.

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – The Niagara University men’s basketball team used a 16-0 run to pull away from Saint Peter’s and record a 91-80 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action win over the Peacocks Thursday night at the Gallagher Center.

The Purple Eagles, now 8-4 overall and 3-1 in league play, got a career-high 26 points from senior guard Alvin Cruz (Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico). Cruz, the program’s all-time leader in assists, added seven assists and three steals.

Niagara trailed 72-71 after Saint Peter’s Todd Sowell scored inside with 6:11 to play. Freshman guard Charron Fisher (Pennsauken, N.J.) gave the Purple Eagles a 73-72 lead when he made a layup with 5:50 remaining. Niagara never trailed again as senior forward Juan Mendez (Montreal) sank a jump shot as the Purple Eagles went on a 16-0 run. Saint Peter’s (5-7, 1-3 MAAC) missed eight-straight shots during the Purple Eagles’ run.

Mendez, who entered the game tied with Clark as the second-leading scorer in the nation, finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds. The double-double was the fifth of the season for Mendez and the 31st of his career. Junior James Mathis (Newark, N.J.) and sophomore J.R. Duffey (Fort Worth, Texas) each scored 13 points and snared eight rebounds.

The Peacocks, who shot 50 percent (19-38) in the first half, took a 48-39 halftime lead. Corey Hinnant, who scored a game-high 28 points, recorded 19 of those in the first half. Clark finished with 16 points while Ron Yates added 19.

Niagara used a 14-3 run to open the second half and take a 53-51 lead when sophomore guard Lorenzo Miles (Washington, D.C.) sank a three-point field goal at 16:20. Cruz sank two three-pointers during Niagara’s run while Mendez added five points of his own. The teams then traded the lead until the Purple Eagles’ 16-0 run.

Niagara will play Iona Saturday at 4 p.m. at the Gallagher Center.