Box Score

NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. - The Niagara men's basketball team suffered its second conference defeat on Sunday to preseason favorite Iona, 98-62. 

"Obviously, very disappointing; we have to do some soul searching to figure what happen," head coach Joe Mihalich said. "I thought we made a giant step in the right direction on Friday night in the way we played - the intensity, the competiveness, the enthusiasm - and there was none of that today." 

Juan'ya Green led Niagara (3-5, 0-2 MAAC) with 25 points for his fourth 20-plus scoring output of the season and led the team with five assists. Green, who is second in the conference in points per game, averaged 30 ppg and 4.5 rebounds per game in this weekend's games against the conference's top two picks. Antoine Mason was the other Purple Eagle to record double figures with 12 points. Ameen Tanksley scored eight points and had six rebounds. 

The Purple Eagles, who were edged in their conference opener by Fairfield on Friday, were unable to keep up the nation's top scoring team today. Iona (6-1, 2-0 MAAC) opened the game with an early 13-2 lead and led 44-22 at halftime. The Gaels continued their hot shooting in the second half (18-for-25) en route to their sixth straight win. Mike Glover led all scorers with 27 points and Scott Machado led the game with 12 assists. 

Niagara will play its third straight home game this Wednesday when it hosts Big 4 rival Buffalo at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on Time Warner Cable SportsNet. For ticket information, contact the Niagara Athletic Ticket Office at 716-286-8499 (TIXX) or tickets@purpleeagles.com.