Senior Juan Mendez posted his 10th consecutive double-double Saturday.

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – The Niagara University men’s basketball team had three players score 15 or points as the Purple Eagles won their fifth-straight game with a 79-68 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference victory over Marist College Saturday at the Gallagher Center.

Senior forward Juan Mendez (Montreal) recorded his 10th consecutive double-double and 13th of the season as he scored a game-high 28 points and snared a game-best 11 rebounds. Classmates David Brooks (Philadelphia) and Alvin Cruz (Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico) added 20 points and 15 points and five assists, respectively.

Niagara improves to 14-6 overall and 9-3 in the MAAC with the win, its 15th-straight victory at the Gallagher Center.

The Purple Eagles made 31 of 36 free throws in the game, including their last 23. In the game, Brooks and Mendez each sank 10 foul shots while Cruz was 9 of 9.

Marist opened the game by making five of its first nine shots to fuel a 12-9 lead. The Red Foxes then connected on only two of its next 10 field-goal attempts while Niagara went on an 18-4 run to take a 27-16 lead. The Purple Eagles led 28-21 at halftime.

The second half saw the Purple Eagles push their lead to 16 points, 43-27, on a three-point field goal by Brooks with 15:18 remaining. Marist used seven second-half three-pointers to come within five points, 51-46, after two free throws by Jared Jordan. Jordan led the Red Foxes (10-10, 7-4) with 23 points.

The Purple Eagles extended their lead back to 10 points, 69-59, after a pair of Cruz free throws with 2:11 left.

Niagara plays Siena Monday at 7 p.m. in the Gallagher Center.