LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. – The Niagara men’s basketball team saw its two-game win streak come to an end in a 61-50 defeat to the Rider Broncs on Sunday at Alumni Gym.

Tough shooting and costly turnovers plagued both teams, but it was Niagara (6-21, 3-12 MAAC) that went through a critical rough patch in the latter part of the second half to be swept by Rider (18-9, 10-5 MAAC) for the second straight season.

 

Niagara trailed at the half, 28-23, but opened the second half scoring nine of the first 13 points to tie the game at 32-32 with 14:30 left. Over the next six minutes, the Broncs went on a 14-4 run behind four 3-pointers.  The conference leader in 3-point percentage went 9-for-26 (34.5%) from behind the arc while the Purple Eagles went 0-for-17.

 

Kashief Edwards had a game-high 21 points and 15 rebounds for his second career double-double; the 15 caroms are a career-high and the 21 points are one point from tying his career-high.

 

Anthony Nelson scored six points, had nine rebounds, four steals and four assists. Nelson is two steals away from tying Mike Phillips for second all-time in career steals and nine steals away from tying the single-season school record

 

Niagara will start a four-game homestand to conclude the regular season beginning on Wednesday when it hosts archrival Canisius for a 7 p.m. tip on Time Warner Cable. Fans are encouraged to wear black in an effort to “Blackout” the Gallagher Center in the latest edition of the Battle of the Bridge rivalry.