BALTIMORE - Behind a pair of career-highs from junior Bilal Benn (Philadelphia, Pa.) and sophomore Anthony Nelson (Plainfield, N.J.) and a solid inside game from senior Benson Egemonye (Benin City, Nigeria), the Niagara men's basketball team (6-2, 1-0 MAAC) dominated Loyola (2-7, 0-2 MAAC), 91-75 in the Purple Eagles' conference opener.

Niagara never trailed in its MAAC opener. The Purple Eagles, who scored 92 points last year in Reitz Arena, jumped out to a 14-3 lead by the first media timeout. NU led by as many as 21 in the first half and took a 50-31 into the half.

"Our defensive intensity to start the game really set the tone," Niagara head coach Joe Mihalich said. "Our defense was the key to our offensive production."

Benn scored a career-high 23 points on 10-of-18 shooting in the win. He was working the glass on both sides of the floor, grabbing six rebounds and banking six jump shots off the backboard. Nelson also tallied a career-high 20 points, including a 9-for-10 effort from the charity stripe.

Egemonye, who scored 16 points in his last three games combined, responded with a 21-point, nine-rebound effort in the paint. The center was 8-for-13 from the floor and grabbed seven offensive rebounds. The point total was one off his career-high.

"It was great to see Benson get back on track," Mihalich added. "It seems like this is a team with a different hero every game."

Demetrius Williamson (Chicago, Ill.) reached double-digit point totals for the fourth-straight game off the bench with 10 markers. Tyrone Lewis (Levittown, Pa.) also scored 10 points while leading the team with five steals.

The Purple Eagles continue their month-long road trip at South Florida on Dec. 14 at 1 p.m. The game will air live on SNY.