NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. -  The Niagara men's basketball team (5-2) dropped a 63-59 decision to Akron (5-2) inside the Gallagher Center on Wednesday night in front of 1,776 fans. The Purple Eagles led 57-48 with 5:30 to play before faltering to the tough Zip defense.

"We have no one to blame but ourselves," Niagara head coach Joe Mihalich said. "We did a good job against their defense for 35 minutes, but we didn't finish."

The loss snapped a four-game win streak for Niagara, and a six-game home run dating back to last season.

After trailing throughout the first half, NU took its first lead since 1-0 on an old-fashioned three-point play by junior Tyrone Lewis (Levittown, Pa.), making the score 34-33. The Purple Eagles used a stifling defensive effort to build their lead and hold off the Zips in the second half.

Another three-pointer from Lewis gave Niagara its biggest lead of the night at 57-48, but the Purple Eagles made just one field goal while committing five turnovers in the final 5:30.

A three-pointer from Darryl Roberts at 2:12 tied the score at 59-59. Turnovers down the stretch prevented the Purple Eagles from winning their seventh in a row at home. Down 61-59 with 4.5 seconds left, Akron stole the inbounds pass and connected on the final two free throws.

Lewis led the team with 21 points, including 15 in the second half, while tying his career high with six steals. Demetrius Williamson (Chicago, Ill.) scored 15 in the first half off the bench, and finished with 17 markers. Bilal Benn (Philadelphia, Pa.) pulled in a team-high 12 rebounds in the loss.

Niagara opens the conference portion of the 2008-09 of the schedule on Sunday at Loyola. Tip-off is scheduled for noon.