NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The Niagara men’s basketball team was unable to hold off a second half run by the Bucknell Bison, falling 88-71 in the first game of the 2K Sports Classic Niagara Falls Subregional at the Gallagher Center on Friday.

“Not to take anything away (because) that’s a real good basketball team… they understand their role, they play well together, they’re very unselfish and they make shots, but (I) thought we had a lot of shots against that team and we didn’t make them,” head coach Joe Mihalich said.

It was a tale of two halves for the Purple Eagles (1-2). NU had the better of play through the first 18 minutes of the game and shot 45 percent from the field and connected on 7-for-16 on 3-pointers in the half. Niagara built a 12-point lead on three different occasions, with the final one coming on a 3-pointer by Marvin Jordan, 43-31, with 2:09 left.

Bucknell (3-0), then, went on a run that spread into the second half. The Bison scored the last seven points in the first half and scored the first 11 points to open the second half.  A 3-pointer by Ameen Tanksley halted the run at 49-46, with 14 minutes remaining and a layup by Joe Thomas with 10:29 left kept Niagara within three points, 55-52. However, it would be the closet Niagara would get for the rest of the night.

Niagara went cold from the field in the second half (7-for-30) as Bucknell heated up, shooting 64 percent and was led by NBA prospect Mike Muscala’s 18 points and 16 rebounds.

Antoine Mason led the Purple Eagles in scoring for the second straight game with 14 points. Juan'ya Green had 13 points and a team-high five assists and Tanksley finished with 12 points and a team-high six rebounds. 

Niagara hosts New Mexico State on Sunday at 4 p.m. in the final game of the 2K Sports Classic benefiting Wounded Warrior Project.