RIVERDALE, N.Y. – Four players scored in double figures as the Niagara University men’s basketball team (15-11, 10-5 MAAC) defeated Manhattan College (12-13, 9-6), 76-74, Sunday afternoon in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action at Draddy Gym.

Junior Charron Fisher (Pennsauken, N.J.) registered his 13th 20-plus point game of the season and 20th of his career as he tallied a team-best 20 points. Freshman Tyrone Lewis (Levittown, Pa.) came off the bench for 14 points while senior Lorenzo Miles (Washington, D.C.) and freshman Rydell Brooks (Akron, Ohio) each chipped in 11 points.

Devon Austin led Manhattan with a game-high 22 points. Arturo Dubois added 15 points and a game-high 14 rebounds.

Niagara struggled offensively in the second half, making just 6 of 20 field goals, but the Purple Eagles were able to score from the floor at critical times and convert 19 of 25 from the free-throw line.

Trailing 70-65 with 1:32 left, senior Clif Brown (Ferndale, Mich.) sank a three-pointer to pull Niagara within two, 70-68. Lewis then scored the next four points, including a three-point play, for a 72-70 lead with 40 seconds remaining. Senior J.R. Duffey (Fort Worth, Texas) gave the Purple Eagles a 74-70 lead with a pair from the charity stripe, but Antoine Pearson converted a traditional three-point play to make it 74-73 with 7.8 seconds to play.

On the next possession, Fisher was fouled and sank two free throws with six seconds left, putting Niagara up, 76-73. Manhattan had one chance to tie the game when Daryl Crawford sank the first of two free throws with 2.1 seconds remaining. His second shot was rebounded by Patrick Bouli whose 12-foot shot came up short.

After leading 43-29 at the half, Niagara fell victim to a 17-3 Manhattan run over the first 4:04 that tied the game at 46. The teams then traded baskets and the lead until a dunk by Fisher ignited an 8-0 Purple Eagle run that put Niagara ahead 58-52 with 9:34 left. Miles scored four of the eight points.

Manhattan got six of seven points from Austin to tie the game at 59 with 6:03 left. Fisher then scored five points on Niagara’s next two possessions to put Niagara up 64-63. The Jaspers countered with a three-pointer by Pearson and a basket by Crawford to set up the game’s dramatic finish.

In the first half, Niagara used a 15-4 run to take a 25-10 lead at 11:03. Brooks and Lewis each scored five points during the run. The Purple Eagles kept at least a 13-point lead over the next three minutes until Manhattan used an 8-0 run to cut Niagara’s lead to seven points, 31-24. The Purple Eagles responded with a 12-5 run to close the half, 43-29. Junior Stanley Hodge (Washington, D.C.) scored all four of his points during the stretch.

Niagara concludes its three-game road swing when it meets cross-town rival Canisius College in the Battle of the Bridge game Feb. 13 at 7:30 p.m. in the Koessler Center in Buffalo.