NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. - The men's basketball team (9-3, 3-0 MAAC) used a last minute surge to pull out a road conference win at Iona (5-10, 1-2 MAAC), 74-67, Thursday at Hynes Athletic Center. The 3-0 MAAC start marks the first time that the Purple Eagles won their first three conference games since head coach Joe Mihalich's first season (1998-99) when NU opened the year 4-0.

Despite not making a field goal in the second half, Charron Fisher (Pennsauken, N.J.) scored a game-high 32 points. The nation's second leading scorer scored 21 points before intermission and connected on 11-of-12 free throws in the second half.

Mihalich and the Purple Eagles received some much needed support from the bench, as senior starter Stanley Hodge (Washington, D.C.) suffered in injury in the first half and did not return to the lineup.

With the score tied at 61-61 with 2:06 to play, junior Benson Egemonye (Benin City, Nigeria) gathered an offensive rebound and converted an old-fashion three-point play, giving the Purple Eagles the lead for good. Prior to that big play, the lead changed hands eight times and the score was tied six times in the second half alone.

"This was a great road win for our team," Mihalich said. "We had guys who don't normally play that much really step up and play big for us tonight. It was great for them to be a part of this big win."

A pair of sophomores achieved career highs in the victory. Kamau Gordon (Greenwich, Conn.) stepped in when Egemonye was whistled for his fourth foul at the 16:43 mark in the second half. The 6-foot-7 forward scored a career-best four points while grabbing a career-high four offensive rebounds. Demetrius Williamson (Chicago, Ill.) pulled down nine rebounds, also a career high.

Niagara jumped out to a 12 point lead at the 5:38 mark in the first after a long-range jumper from Fisher. That three was part of a 14-point run that Fisher amassed over a 4:39 stretch. The Gaels connected on an easy bucket and kick-started a 15-5 run to pull within 37-34 at the half.

The back-and-forth second half was initiated by perimeter defense by the Niagara guards. The Purple Eagles forced 24 Gael turnovers while collecting 14 steals. Six of those thefts came at the hands of freshman point guard Anthony Nelson (Plainfield, N.J.), a career high.

Tyrone Lewis (Levittown, Pa.) continued his recent scoring success with 17 points. He connected on 8-of-9 from the line, converting 24 of his last 25 freebies, dating back to the Marist win.

The victory gives NU a five-game winning streak overall, and 13 straight against MAAC opponents, dating back to Feb. 2, 2007. It also gives the Purple Eagles their best start under Mihalich and since the 1992-93 season when they jumped out to an 11-1 start.

The Purple Eagles are back in action on Saturday with a 2 p.m. tipoff at Manhattan.