BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – Freshman Tyrone Lewis (Levittown, Pa.) scored a career- and team-high 23 points to lead the Niagara University men’s basketball team (21-11) past Loyola College (18-13), 89-79, in Sunday’s Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference semifinals at the Arena at Harbor Yard.

The Purple Eagles face Siena College, which defeated Marist College, 86-78, in Monday’s 9 p.m. championship game televised live on ESPN2. Niagara makes its fourth appearance in the MAAC title game in six years.

Lewis came off the bench to sink 8 of 12 from the field and 7 of 7 from the free-throw line. He also had four rebounds, two steals and a block. Senior Lorenzo Miles (Washington, D.C.) had 22 points and sank four of six three-pointers. Classmate Clif Brown (Ferndale, Mich.) registered his 15th double-double of the season with 18 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. Junior Charron Fisher (Pennsauken, N.J.) had 16 points.

Loyola was led by Gerald Brown’s 26 points. Josko Alujevic’s had 13 points and Hassan Fofana 11 points.

Niagara used a 22-10 second-half run to secure their 10th consecutive win. Ahead 63-56 with 13:39 left, Lewis, Brown and Miles all scored five points and junior Stanley Hodge (Washington, D.C.) had four to take an 82-65 lead at 6:26. Lewis made it 85-66 when he converted a dunk into a three-point play at 5:59.

In the first half, the team teams had four ties before Niagara went on a 28-18 run to finish the half up 47-37. Brown, Lewis and Miles were all in double figures at the half.

Niagara shot 50.8 percent from the field and out-rebounded Loyola, 41-23.