PHILADELPIA – Junior Charron Fisher (Pennsauken, N.J.) and seniors Lorenzo Miles (Washington, D.C.) and Clif Brown (Ferndale, Mich.) each posted 20-plus point games to help lead the Niagara University men’s basketball team (6-7) to an 88-82 victory over La Salle University (6-6) Saturday night in the final game of the Explorer Invitational at Tom Gola Arena.

Fisher tied his career high with 27 points, including going 10 for 10 from the foul line. Miles had a season-high 22 points and was 10 of 12 from the charity stripe. The guard also scored his 1,000th career point on the second basket of a two-shot foul with 36 seconds left in the game. Brown registered his fifth double-double of the season and second consecutive with 20 points and a game-high 11 rebounds. Junior Stanley Hodge (Washington, D.C.) collected a game-best seven assists.

La Salle was led by Yves Mekongo Mbala with 23 points and Ruben Guillandeaux had 19 points.

Niagara led for the majority of the game, but La Salle made it interesting with just over two minutes remaining. The Purple Eagles led 78-66 with 2:11 left before the Explorers went on a 15-4 run to close within five, 84-79, with 26.6 seconds left, but Niagara held on with timely free throws.

The Purple Eagles posted season highs in free throws and attempts, making 29 of 33, including 10 of 12 in the final 1:09.

Fisher, Miles and Brown were all in double figures in the first half as Niagara shot 43.2 percent from the field and led 43-36 at halftime. La Salle had its only lead of the game three minutes into the game, but senior J.R. Duffey (Ft. Worth, Texas) sank his lone three-pointer at 16:43 to give the Purple Eagles the lead for good.

Niagara outrebounded La Salle 44-31 and snared a season-high 21 offensive boards.

The Purple Eagles return to Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play Jan. 3 when they host Saint Peter’s College at 7 p.m. in the legendary Taps Gallagher Center.