NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – Senior forward Clif Brown (Ferndale, Mich.) registered his second double-double of the season with 23 points and 12 rebounds but it was not enough for the Niagara University men’s basketball team (1-6) dropped an 86-64 non-conference decision to St. John’s University (6-3) Saturday in front of 1,869 fans at the Gallagher Center.

Brown, whose double-double was the eighth of his career, scored 20 of his points in the first half.

The Purple Eagles opened the game by making three-straight shots to take an 8-0 lead. Senior guard Lorenzo Miles (Washington, D.C.) sank a three-point field goal before freshman Tyrone Lewis (Levittown, Pa.) sank a layup and Brown made a three-pointer for the 8-0 lead. St. John’s responded with a 13-4 run to take a 13-12 lead on a basket by Anthony Mason, Jr.

The teams then battled to a 23-23 tie and St. John’s held a 35-34 lead before the Red Storm closed the half with a 6-2 run for a 41-36 halftime edge.

A three-point play by freshman Rydell Brooks (Akron, Ohio) brought Niagara within four, 43-39, 30 seconds into the second half.

St. John’s then went on a 7-2 run for a 50-41 lead after a three-point field goal by Avery Patterson with 16:50 remaining. Patterson made six three-point field goals and finished with a career-high 26 points.

Brown brought Niagara within six, 50-44, with a three-pointer at 16:30. But Niagara would then go without a field goal for almost eight minutes until Lewis hit a short jump shot after driving the lane with 8:49 remaining. Lewis’ basket brought Niagara within 15, 62-47.

Mason Jr. recorded 22 points and 11 rebounds for St. John’s while Eugene Lawrence and Lamont Hamilton scored 14 and 10 points, respectively. Lawrence led St. John’s with nine assists.

Lewis finished with 10 points and three assists for Niagara.

Niagara returns to action Dec. 16 with a 2 p.m. game against Duquesne.