Box Score

ALBANY, N.Y . – The Niagara men’s basketball team fell to the Siena Saints, 72-60, on Sunday to conclude its three-game road trip.

“I’m disappointed because I thought we came out with some fire to start the game,” head Joe Mihalich said.” One score I remember was 18-8, (but) disappointed that we didn’t get that right feeling, that this is how to play, we have to play this way for 40 minutes and we didn’t.”

The Purple Eagles’ struggle at Siena (7-8, 2-3 MAAC) continued as they dropped their eighth straight at the Times Union Center against the Saints, despite a strong start to the game. Niagara opened the contest on 12-3 run and led 18-8 before Siena used an 8-0 spurt cut Niagara’s lead to 18-16. Siena took its first lead, 27-26, with 2:45 remaining as the Saints closed the half on an 8-3 run for a 31-28 lead.

Trailing 40-32 with 14:41 remaining, the Purple Eagles regained the lead thanks to a 10-0 run which was started by a 3-pointer by Ameen Tanksley and ended by a 3-pointer by Malcolm Lemmons. Niagara found itself behind 50-48 with 7:40 left when a pair of free throws by Siena’s Evan Hymes sparked a 16-3 run over the next four minutes to effectively seal the game.

Antoine Mason led the Purple Eagles with 15 points and added five rebounds. Juan'ya Green had another solid performance with 11 points, a career-high eight rebounds, five assists and two steals. Tanksley scored 10 points and Lemmons had nine points and was the only Purple Eagle in double-digit rebounds with a career-high 10. The Saints’ OD Anosike led the game with his 11th straight double-double with 27 points and 14 rebounds.

Niagara returns to the Gallagher Center on Friday, Jan. 13 when it hosts the Saint Peter’s Peacocks at 9 p.m. For ticket information, contact the Niagara Athletic Ticket Office at 716-286-8499 (TIXX) or tickets@purpleeagles.com.