BEMIDJI, MINN. - The Niagara men's hockey team (7-17-4, 2-8-2 CHA) dropped its second consecutive 3-2 decision at the John Glas Fieldhouse to the No. 9 Bemidji State Beavers (20-7-2, 12-3-0 CHA) on Friday night.

With the Purple Eagles down 3-2 late in the game, they couldn't cash in on a five-minute power-play after Matt Read was sent to the sin bin for elbowing Marc Zanette. Niagara has now played in 16 games this season that have been decided by a goal or less.

"It was a great road game for us," head coach Dave Burkholder said. "But in the end, we didn't help ourselves on the powerplay."

The Beavers took a  1-0 just a little over halfway into the opening frame, when Ian Lowe slammed home a rebound on the doorstep past junior netminder Adam Avramenko. Niagara outshot Bemidji 11-5 in the opening 20 minutes but just couldn't get one past Beaver netminder Dan Bakala, including a dangerous point shot from senior blueliner Tyler Gotto as time expired.

Niagara would tie the game at the 8:10 mark of the middle frame, when Chris Moran sent a backhand pass from the slot to Paul Zanette, whom would send it across the goalmouth to Bryan Haczyk for the equalizer. Moran's 96th career assist makes him Niagara's career assists leader, passing Barret Ehgoetz (2001-05).

The Beavers took their second lead of the night nearly five minutes into the third period, when Jamie MacQueen won a one on one battle and beat Avramenko short side. About two minutes later, Read would bury a one-timer to help the Beavers take a 3-1 lead.

The Purps would come within one in the third period, when Zanette one-timed a Haczyk feed on a two-on-one past Bakala.

"Tonight was a game between two equal teams battling it out," Burkholder said. "In the end, they made just one more play than we did."

The Purple Eagles finish its two-game series against the Beavers tomorrow night at 8 p.m. eastern time.