NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. - The Niagara men's basketball team (11-10, 4-5 MAAC) dropped a 74-65 decision against Saint Peter's (11-8, 6-3 MAAC) on Friday night inside the 'Taps' Gallagher Center. Senior Demetrius Williamson led all scorers with a career-high 23 points.

"I thought (Friday night) that there were a lot of plays where we were out toughed," Niagara head coach Joe Mihalich said. "I think we did a good job defensively in the first half, we just didn't rebound the ball well enough. Without Tyrone, there really was no room for error."

The Purple Eagles were playing their ninth game of the season without a First-Team All-MAAC player, and sixth game without the MAAC's leading scorer, Tyrone Lewis (shoulder).

Williamson picked up the slack in the scoring column, setting a career-high with 23 points, including tying his career high with five 3-pointers and nine rebounds.

But the Peacocks proved to be more aggressive in all facets of the game, especially in the second half. Saint Peter's outscored NU 47-35 after intermission and controlled the glass 25-18. SPC also shot 56.7 percent from the field (17-for-30) in the second half, compared to Niagara's 35.1 percent.

Senior Bilal Benn scored 15 points and grabbed nine rebounds in the loss, while classmate Rob Garrison added eight points and six boards. Sophomore Austin Cooley, making his first career start, scored six points.

Saint Peter's spread the scoring load around, as Nick Leon lead four double-digit scorers with a team-high 19 points and Ryan Bacon added 15 markers and tied a career-high with 16 rebounds, matching the carom total from the Peacocks double overtime win 11 days ago.

Junior point guard Anthony Nelson had seven points and four assists and sophomore Kashief Edwards recorded six points, eight rebounds and five blocks off the bench.

The Purple Eagles return to action on Sunday at 4 p.m. with a conference tilt against Rider. Tip-off on MAACTV is slated for 4 p.m.