NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – Despite a game-high 15 points and eight rebounds from senior forward Clif Brown (Ferndale, Mich.), the Niagara University men’s basketball team (0-3) suffered a 63-48 non-conference loss to the University of Akron (3-1) Saturday night in front of 1,183 fans at the Gallagher Center.

Niagara also got 14 points from senior forward J.R. Duffey (Fort Worth, Texas). Akron was led by Romeo Travis and Nick Dials as each player scored 13 points.

The Purple Eagles opened the game with a 9-2 run as freshman guard Tyrone Lewis (Levittown, Pa.) scored four points and Brown made a three-point field goal at 15:54. Akron then used an 11-4 run to tie the game, 13-13, when Nick Goddard sank a long three-pointer at 12:35. The Zips never trailed again.

Niagara cut the lead to one point, 16-15, when freshman Andrew Patterson (Hartford, Conn.) sank two foul shots with 10:59 remaining in the half. Akron scored the game’s next eight points to take a 24-15 lead with 8:10 left on a Dials’ three-pointer.

Travis scored 11 of his points in the second half as Akron kept the lead in double figures for the game’s final 16 minutes.

The Purple Eagles’ 48 points were the fewest since Niagara scored 59 points in 68-59 loss to Buffalo, Dec. 3, 2005.

Niagara will play St. Bonaventure in Olean at 7 p.m. Wednesday.