ALBANY, N.Y. - The second-seeded Niagara men's basketball team used a strong defensive perfomance to advance into the MAAC Semifinals with a 79-50 victory over No. 10 Marist on Saturday inside the Times Union Center in Albany, N.Y. Junior guard Rob Garrison (Niagara Falls, N.Y.) poured in a game-high 21 points in the win.

Niagara led from start to finish in the win, its 25th of the season. The Purple Eagles' lead stayed in double figures throughout the second half and reached as many as 29.

"The first game is the toughest," Niagara head coach Joe Mihalich said. "I was really proud that we came out of the gate focused and determined."

Garrison, who is averaging 15.3 points per game in his last six contests, shot 7-for-14 from the floor and a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line. He grabbed five rebounds and handed out four assists.

"I just wanted to get involved," Garrison said in the postgame press conference. "I want them to have to worry about me, too, not just Tyrone (Lewis) and Bilal (Benn)."

As efficient as Garrison was on the offensive side of the ball, the Purple Eagles won the game on the defensive end. Niagara held the Red Foxes to 50 points, the 10th time this season it has held its opponent in the 50's. NU held Marist's leading scorer Ryan Schneider without a field goal in the first half. He finished the game 3-for-13 from the floor.

"I think defensively, our intensity was at its peak," Garrison added.

Tyrone Lewis (Levittown, Pa.) added 13 points and six rebounds while Benson Egemonye (Benin City, Nigeria) chipped in with 11 points and nine caroms. Bilal Benn (Philadelphia, Pa.), while limited with foul trouble, scored nine points with seven rebounds.

The Purple Eagle bench also got into the thick of the action. NU's reserves totaled 22 points and 23 rebounds. Juniors Demetrius Williamson (Chicago, Ill.) and Kamau Gordon (Greenwich, Conn.) were instrumental in the production. Williamson scored 12 points and pulled in six rebounds, while Gordon nabbed five off the glass while scoring two. Freshman Kashief Edwards (Philadelphia, Pa.) added five points and four rebounds.

Niagara will face No. 3 Rider in the semifinal round on Sunday at 8:30 p.m.