NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. - The Niagara men's basketball team (19-6, 10-3) matched last season's win total with a complete team effort on Sunday with a 75-50 win over Fairfield (15-10, 8-6). The Purple Eagles forced 21 turnovers in the win and shot a blistering 65.2 percent from the floor in the second half.

Niagara's defense, which has been the story all season long, held Fairfield to 50 points on 34.5 percent shooting. The Stags entered the game fourth in the conference, shooting 43.5 percent from the field, and had turned the ball over just 23 times in the last three games combined. The 21 turnovers was a season-high for Fairfield.

"I may sound like a broken record," Niagara head coach Joe Mihalich said, "but we always say that defense wins championships. Our defense was real good today."

The Purple Eagles tied a season high with 16 steals, led by Bilal Benn's (Philadelphia, Pa.) four and Tyrone Lewis' (Levittown, Pa.) three. Niagara has totaled double-digit steals in its last five games, all wins, averaging 13 thefts during that span.

"No disrespect to anyone else in the league," Mihalich added, "but I don't know if there are two better defensive players in the league than Tyrone and Bilal."

Benn recorded his eighth double-double of the season with 17 points and 11 rebounds in the win. The junior guard scored 13 points in the second half, shooting 5-for-6 from the floor, including a perfect 3-for-3 from behind the arc. All four of his game-high steals came in the second half as well.

The Purple Eagles led 31-24 at halftime, despite shooting just 1-for-12 from three-point range in the opening stanza. After the break however, Niagara shot 7-of-10 from long distance en route to the 25-point victory.

Lewis finished with 14 points and five rebounds, while Rob Garrison (Niagara Falls, N.Y.) and Austin Cooley (Silver Spring, Md.) each added 10 markers in the win. Benson Egemonye (Benin City, Nigeria) added eight points, seven rebounds and three steals, while Anthony Nelson (Plainfield, N.J.) threw in six assists and three steals.

The NU bench provided a big lift as well, outscoring Fairfield's, 25-15. Junior Kamau Gordon (Greenwich, Conn.) and freshman Kashief Edwards (Philadelphia, Pa.) each chipped in with six points, while Cooley's 10 came off the bench as well. Walk-on forward Paul Kowalski (Buffalo, N.Y.) also etched his name into the scoresheet, burying a three-pointer as the shot clock ran out down the stretch for his first career basket.

"Our stars stepped up (Sunday), but our bench won us this game," Mihalich explained.

Niagara travels to cross-town rival Canisius on Thursday, Feb. 12 for a 7:30 p.m. tip.