NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. - Niagara senior Charron Fisher (Pennsauken, N.J.) eclipsed the 40-point plateau for the second consecutive contest, leading the Purple Eagles (16-8, 10-5 MAAC) to an 81-75 victory over Iona (10-17, 6-9 MAAC) in front of 2,117 Gallagher Center fans on Saturday night. The victory puts Niagara one game back from first place in the conference.

Fisher became the first player in school history since Calvin Murphy to score more than 40 points in two-straight games after he buried a pair of free throws with four second left to secure the win and give him 41 points. He tallied 45 in NU's last game at Loyola.

The nation's leading scorer became the first Division I player since Adam Morrison during the 2005-06 season to score 40 points in back-to-back games. Morrison, who scored 40 points five times during his senior season, tallied 42 points against Portland five days after he totaled 41 versus San Francisco.

"When the other guys are keeping defenses honest," Niagara head coach Joe Mihalich said, "there is no one that can guard Charron."

The Purple Eagles led by as many as 12 in the first half. Niagara took the lead 2:07 into the game on a three-pointer by freshman Anthony Nelson (Plainfield, N.J.) and never trailed.

Iona fought back to cut the lead to one at 64-63 with 7:20 remaining, but Niagara responded with an 8-1 run and never looked back. Fisher scored seven-straight points during that run that was capped by a Stanley Hodge (Washington, D.C.) free throw. Hodge finished the game with 18 points and a team-high five assists and three steals.

"As good as [Charron] was, he was able to do it because Stanley played so well in that first half," Mihalich said. "Stanley made some shots and kept them honest."

Tyrone Lewis (Levittown, Pa.) scored 12 points in the win while adding seven rebounds and four assists. NU's terrific trio of Fisher, Hodge and Lewis combined for 71 points, six days after going for 82 in the win at Loyola.

Nelson finished the contest with six points, four helpers and three boards.

The logjam atop the MAAC got a little tighter on Saturday. Rider and Siena both lost earlier in the day and had their league mark fall to 11-4. Loyola, by virtue of its victory at Siena, moved into a third-place tie with Niagara, though the Purple Eagles own the tiebreaker over the Greyhounds after their season sweep. Marist and Fairfield sit one game behind Niagara with 9-6 records.

The Purple Eagles are back in action on Monday inside the legendary 'Taps' Gallagher Center for Fan Appreciation Night. Tickets are just $1 for the 7 p.m. tipoff against the Saint Peter's Peacocks.