Junior Clif Brown had 17 points in the win over Appalachian State Friday.

NIAGARA UN., N.Y. -- The Niagara University men’s basketball team (3-6) will be trying to ring in the New Year with a championship when it meets Troy University (5-5) this afternoon in the championship game of the Duquesne Holiday Tournament in the A.J. Palumbo Center in Pittsburgh, Pa.

The Purple Eagles will be playing for their first in-season title in 33 years and their second consecutive win. They snapped a six-game losing streak Friday with a 79-70 win over Appalachian State.

Troy advanced to the championship game with a 78-72 victory over Duquesne. The win ended a two-game slide for the Trojans.

The game can be heard live on WJJL (1440 AM) and on Niagara University’s official sports website, www.PurpleEagles.com.

Niagara leads the all-time series, 1-0.