Senior Juan Mendez recorded his 2,000th career point Monday in a win over Siena.

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – The Niagara University men’s basketball team won its sixth consecutive game as the Purple Eagles recorded an 81-66 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference victory over Siena Monday night at the Gallagher Center. Five Purple Eagles scored in double figures as Niagara won its 16th-straight home contest, extending the nation’s 10th-best streak.

Senior forward Juan Mendez (Montreal) led the Purple Eagles with 20 points and 11 rebounds. The double-double performance was the 11th consecutive this season for Mendez and his 14th overall this campaign. Mendez’s layup with 4:30 remaining allowed him to reach the 2,000-point mark for his career. He is just the second-ever Purple Eagle to score 2,000 career points, joining Calvin Murphy (1967-70).

The Purple Eagles (15-6, 10-3) opened the game with an 8-2 run, fueled by two three-point field goals by sophomore Lorenzo Miles (Washington, D.C.). Siena (4-10, 2-10) answered with a 16-9 run to take an 18-17 lead. The teams traded baskets until Niagara closed the half with five-straight points, three coming on an Alvin Cruz (Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico) basket, for a 39-35 lead.

Niagara opened the second half with a 12-2 run but Siena rallied with a 16-5 run to come within one point, 56-55, with 10:28 left. The Purple Eagles went on an 11-2 run to push their margin to 10 points, 67-57, on a Mendez basket with 4:30 remaining.

Senior David Brooks (Philadelphia) netted 14 points while Miles and Cruz each finished with 13. Junior forward James Mathis (Newark, N.J.) came off the bench for 11 points and eight rebounds.

Niagara had a 43-27 rebounding advantage, fueled by 14 offensive rebounds.

The Purple Eagles play Iona at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in New Rochelle, N.Y.