NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. - The Niagara University men's basketball team (2-0) picked up the defensive pressure en route to an 80-63 victory over Big 4 rival University at Buffalo, Tuesday, inside the 'Taps' Gallagher Center that was sold out for the second-straight contest. The Purple Eagles forced 26 turnovers, had 15 steals and blocked seven shots, all season-highs, in the win.

"(Tuesday) we played a team that is usually the best defensive team on the floor," head coach Joe Mihalich said. "Tonight, we were the better defensive team. I would not want to play against our three guards when they really get into it defensively."

Senior Stanley Hodge (Washington, D.C.) scored 15 of his career-high 20 points in the second half as the Purple Eagle lead never dropped below double-digits after halftime. Hodge was 5-of-8 from the floor, including three triples, and a perfect 7-for-7 from the line in the contest, while leading the team with nine rebounds and handing out five assists.

Charron Fisher (Pennsauken, N.J.) totaled a game-high 27 points to go along with his eight boards. The senior swingman cut down on his turnovers, committing just one against the Bulls after eight in the opening-night win.

"We got better tonight," Mihalich added. "We played a tough team that guards the ball extremely well, and this win prepared us for our conference portion of the schedule. Our non-conference schedule is designed to make us better and prepare us for our ultimate goal, the NCAA Tournament."

The lead changed hands four times in the first five minutes of the game, but then it was all Niagara. The Purple Eagles used aggressive defense to lead by as many as 15 points in the first half, and built the lead to 22 with 4:39 remaining in the contest.

Sophomore guard Tyrone Lewis (Levittown, Pa.) led the squad with four steals, while four others recorded at least a pair of takeaways. Lewis scored 13 of his 18 points in the first half while also blocking a team-best two shots.

Freshman Anthony Nelson (Plainfield, N.J.) filled the stat sheet once again. The 6-foot-1 point guard had seven points, seven assists, six rebounds and three steals.

The sellout crowd marks the first time in the Mihalich era that a Purple Eagle team has sold out the first to games of the season. Niagara will look to make it three in a row as it announced its next home game, Nov. 28 vs. St. Bonaventure, has less than 500 tickets remaining. You can purchase tickets online or by calling 716-852-5000.

Niagara plays its first contest away from home on Nov. 24 when it travels to Pittsburgh, Pa., to face Duquesne. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.