POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - The Niagara men's basketball team (11-9, 4-4 MAAC) used a hot start to the second half to help defeat Marist (1-17, 1-7 MAAC) 72-56 at McCann Center in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. The victory snapped a three-game road losing streak and evened the Purple Eagles' conference mark at 4-4.

Niagara scored the first nine points of the second half thanks to an aggressive full court trapping defense. The Purple Eagles run extended to 23-7 and Niagara led by as many as 22 after the break. NU forced 18 turnovers and scored 18 points of off Marist's miscues.

"It's great to get a win, but it's better to see us play the way that we played," Niagara head coach Joe Mihalich said. "We were flying all over the floor, making plays, getting steals and attacking the basket. We have got to get that feeling back. We kind of lost it and got into a funk, but we are happy and proud of our guys for fighting through it."

Rob Garrison (Niagara Falls, N.Y.) led four Purple Eagles in double figures with a game-high 18 points. The senior guard also led the defensive effort, tying a career-high with five steals. Garrison was 4-for-8 from the floor (including 3-for-5 from behind the arc) and 7-for-8 from the free throw line.

Seniors Tyrone Lewis (Levittown, Pa.) and Bilal Benn (Philadelphia, Pa.) added 17 and 13 points, respectively. Lewis shot 7-for-12 from the field and pulled in eight rebounds while Benn added six boards and four steals.

Sophomore Kashief Edwards (Philadelphia, Pa.) scored all 10 of his points in the second half. He also pulled in a season-high eight rebounds in the win. Anthony Nelson (Plainfield, N.J.) paced the offensive effort with six of his seven assists coming before intermission.

The Purple Eagles return home on Friday, Jan. 22 against Saint Peter's for a 7 p.m. tip-off.