Sophomore Charron Fisher recorded his second consecutive double-double with game highs of 18 points and 14 rebounds vs. Bucknell. |
NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – The Niagara University men’s basketball team’s (2-2) 18-game home-court win streak came to an end Wednesday night as Bucknell University (4-0) recorded a 66-63 non-conference win over the Purple Eagles at the Gallagher Center with 2,039 fans in attendance.
The Purple Eagles had a 40-31 lead at halftime but struggled with 3-of-22 shooting from the field in the second half. While Niagara was struggling from the field, Bucknell used a 21-4 run to open the second half and take a 52-44 lead.
Sophomore Charron Fisher (Pennsauken, N.J.) had a game-best 18 points to go with a career-high 14 rebounds for his second-straight double-double. Junior Lorenzo Miles (Washington, D.C.) had 17 points while classmate J.R. Duffey (Fort Worth, Texas) added 16 points. Senior James Mathis (Newark, N.J.) finished with 10 points and two steals.
Bucknell opened the game with a 21-13 run before the Purple Eagles responded. Mathis sank a pair of free throws to give Niagara a 24-23 lead with six minutes remaining in the half. The Purple Eagles pushed their run to 31-23 after a three-point play by Miles at 4:27. After Bucknell’s Charles Lee hit back-to-back three-point field goals, Niagara closed the half with a 9-2 run as Duffey scored six points.
A Kevin Bettencourt foul shot with 9:55 to play capped Bucknell’s 21-4 run to begin the second half and give the Bison a 52-44 lead. Niagara, which missed its first nine field goal attempts, made its first second-half field goal on a Fisher three-pointer with 9:07 remaining. Fisher’s basket cut the Bucknell lead to three, 52-49.
Bucknell pushed its lead to eight points, 60-52, with 5:14 remaining before Niagara responded with four points by Mathis and a Fisher three-point play to come within one, 60-59, at 3:42. Both teams then traded foul shots before Duffey sank two more free throws to give the Purple Eagles a 63-62 lead, Niagara’s first lead since a 44-43 advantage at 14:43, with 1:01 left. Bettencourt sank two free throws before Lee sank two more to give Bucknell the final margin, 66-63.
Lee led Bucknell with 18 points while Bettencourt added 13. Chris McNaughton recorded 12 points and a team-high six rebounds.
Niagara plays the University at Buffalo Saturday at the Gallagher Center. The men’s game will follow the 5 p.m. women’s contest between the two schools.
Niagara Men’s Basketball Game Notes
Niagara vs. Bucknell – Nov. 30, 2005
Gallagher Center
Final Score: Bucknell 66, Niagara 63
· With tonight’s 66-63 loss to the Bucknell Bison, the Purple Eagles snap their 1- game home winning streak. The last time the Purple Eagles lost at home was Feb. 14, 2004, against Fairfield.
· Sophomore Charron Fisher registered his second consecutive double-double with game-highs of 18 points and 14 rebounds. His rebound total was also a career high.
· With two three-pointers tonight, junior Lorenzo Miles now needs just four more treys to move into ninth on the career list.
· J.R. Duffey scored a season-high 16 points, besting his previous season-high of 15 points scored vs. St. Bonaventure on Nov. 21.
· James Mathis tied his season high in points with 10.
· Tonight marked the first time the Purple Eagles recorded no bench points since Jan. 25, 2004, in an 82-69 win over Rider.
· Tonight’s attendance was 2,039, the second consecutive home game with an attendance of over 2,000 fans.
· A school record 526 students attended tonight’s game.
· For the third consecutive game Niagara head coach Joe Mihalich started Charron Fisher and Clif Brown at wings, Lorenzo Miles at point, James Mathis and J.R. Duffey at forward.
