Sophomore J.R. Duffey was one of five Purple Eagles to score in double figures Saturday.

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – Senior Juan Mendez’s jumper in the lane with 1:09 left proved to be the game-winning basket as the Niagara University men’s basketball team defeated Fairfield University, 78-74, Saturday afternoon in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game at Arena at Harbor Yard.

Niagara remains in first place in the MAAC and improves to 16-7 overall and 11-4 in the conference. Fairfield falls to 12-11 overall and 9-5 in the league.

Mendez’s game winner came after Fairfield tied the game at 74 on a pair of free throws from Deng Gai with 1:38 left. On Fairfield’s next possession, sophomore Lorezno Miles stole the ball from Gai, but Gai then took a charge with 16 seconds left. Sophomore J.R. Duffey then took a charge with four seconds remaining and senior David Brooks sank a pair of free throws with two seconds on the clock for the win.

Mendez (Montreal, Que.) led the five Purple Eagle starters with 18 points and 11 rebounds for his 41st career double-double. Senior Alvin Cruz (Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico) netted 16 points and dished out a game-high four assists. Miles (Washington, D.C.) recorded 14 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals. Brooks (Philadelphia, Pa.) and Duffey (Ft. Worth, Texas) had 12 points each.

Niagara had a 13-point lead, 48-35, at halftime after closing with a 13-5 run. The Purple Eagles maintained a double-digit lead until the 11-minute mark of the second half when Fairfield went on a quick 6-0 run to pull to within six, 59-53.

The teams traded baskets until the 6:37 mark when the Stags went on a 17-9 run to tie the game and set up Mendez’s game-winning shot.

Niagara returns to action Feb. 16 when its hosts Little Three rival Canisius at 7 p.m. The sold out game is the final home game of the regular season for the Purple Eagles.