LYNCHBURG, Va. - The Niagara University men's basketball team (3-2) dropped a heart-breaker to Liberty University (4-4) on Saturday, 86-81, inside the Vines Center in Lynchburg, Va.

With the Purple Eagles in foul trouble throughout the contest, sophomore Demetrius Williamson (Chicago, Ill.) stepped in and had a career night, but it wasn't enough in the close contest. The first-year forward scored 19 points on 5-of-9 shooting from behind the arc.

With Niagara clinging to a one-point lead with 23 seconds remaining, 78-77, LU's Anthony Smith sank a contested three pointer, giving the Flames their first lead since the 8:27 mark in the second half. On the Purple Eagles insuing possession, sophomore Tyrone Lewis' (Levittown, Pa.) baseline jumper fell short with eight seconds left, and in the scramble for the loose ball, NU was whistled for a foul while trying to gain possession with a jump ball. The possession arrow favored the Purple Eagles. The Flames added some late free throws to secure the win.

"We lost the game in the first 10 minutes with our poor play," head coach Joe Mihalich said. "We played a team that needed a little confidence, and gave it to them."

The Purple Eagles have scored first in every contest this season, and senior Stanley Hodge (Washington, D.C.) has been doing a majority of the opening scoring. No. 0 buried an open three to start the game, but it was all Liberty for the next 10 minutes. The Flames opened up a 13-point lead with 8:38 remaining in the half after starting the game connecting on their first five shots. Overall for the contest, LU shot 62 percent from the floor, 71 percent in the second half.

Niagara climbed back into the game before the half on the sharp-shooting of Williamson. The sophomore was 3-for-5 from three in the opening stanza.

Charron Fisher (Pennsauken, N.J.), the nation's seventh leading scorer, scored 22 points before fouling out with 2:00 minutes remaining. Benson Egemonye (Benin City, Nigeria) played a strong second half, scoring all 12 of his points after halftime. He had three put-back jams and was 5-for7 from the floor while grabbing six offensive boards.

Hodge finished the game with 14 points and 12 rebounds, while Lewis added 10 markers.

The Purple Eagles return home to open MAAC play on Dec. 6 against Rider. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. inside the Gallagher Center, where Niagara is a perfect 3-0.