NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. - In a matchup featuring the top two players in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC), Niagara senior Charron Fisher (Pennsauken, N.J.) rose to the top. The forward connected on eight three-point baskets, scoring a career-high 36 points, to help the Purple Eagles outduel Jason Thompson and Rider, 89-77, inside the 'Taps' Gallagher Center on Thursday.

As a team, Niagara (4-2, 1-0 MAAC) hit 15 long-range jumpers, the second-most in school history. The 2004 team hit 16 three's in a 36-point win over Yale.

Fisher's eight treys also tied for the second-most by an individual, and is the most since Alvin Young (1997-99) buried eight against cross-town rival Canisius in 1999. Fisher's final three-pointer moved him ahead of Young into 31st on Niagara's all-time scoring chart with 1,157 career markers.

"All of my shots felt good tonight," Fisher said. "Tyrone and Stanley have been playing real good so far, so teams are starting to key on them more. That just opened things up for me tonight, and I took advantage of it."

The Purple Eagles opened the game making their first five three pointers, a prequel of things to come. Fisher nailed his first four, including three in the first four minutes of play, as Niagara jumped out to a 22-8 lead.

The Broncs (5-4, 0-1 MAAC) fought back and took the lead at 33-31 with 4:10 remaining, but that triggered another Niagara spurt led by Fisher. The Purple Eagles scored the next 14 points, and expanded their lead to 45-33 with 55 seconds left in the half. They headed to the locker room up 50-34.

Preseason MAAC Player of the Year Jason Thompson picked up his second and third fouls during that 14-0 run. The big man was whistled for an offensive foul and a technical foul with 2:48 remaining in the opening stanza. Thompson finished the game with 25 points and 10 rebounds.

While Fisher was the main producer on the night, the Purple Eagle bench gave the starters a much needed lift. All eight players who saw action were in the scoring column, including three big, first-half points from Kamau Gordon (Greenwich, Conn.). The sophomore forward sank a free throw and a put back layup for his first points of his collegiate career.

"This was a great win for us, and a total team effort," head coach Joe Mihalich said. "We got 12 points off our bench in the first half, and we are definitely going to need that."

Benson Egemonye (Benin City, Nigeria) stood strong against Thompson in the paint. He scored eight points, marking the third-straight game with at least that many, grabbed 12 rebounds, eight offensive boards and blocked a season-high three shots.

Tyrone Lewis (Levittown, Pa.) scored 14 points, while Stanley Hodge (Washington, D.C.) added 12. Freshman point guard Anthony Nelson (Plainfield, N.J.) dished out 10 assists in the win.

The Purple Eagles are back on the hardwood when they travel to Towson on Dec. 9 for a 1 p.m. tip.