AMHERST, N.Y. – The Niagara men’s basketball team was edged in a Big Four rivalry game against the Buffalo Bulls, 77-67, on Saturday at Alumni Arena.

Juan'ya Green led Niagara (3-6) with 23 points and four assists and was joined by Antoine Mason and T.J. Cline in double figures with 18 and 10 points, respectively. Redshirt senior forward Devon White, who transferred after player three seasons at La Salle, made his season debut. White finished with four points, five rebounds and had a team-high two blocks in 23 minutes.

Niagara trimmed an 11-point second half deficit to two points with 10 minutes remaining, but UB (4-7) repelled each NU’s attempt to take the lead with timely shots.  After two free throws by Ameen Tanksley cut the lead to 56-54, UB’s Tony Watson connected a 3-pointer and when Mason made a pair of free throws to bring NU to 59-55, Watson again made a 3-pointer to put the Bulls up 62-56 with 7:41 left. The Purple Eagles went over 10 minutes without a field goal before Mason drained a 3-pointer to cut the lead to 67-61 with 1:35 left, however, NU was unable to get the deficit under six points.

“Anytime we made a mistake they capitalized, they made us pay and that’s how you win,” head coach Joe Mihalich said. “I’m not sure when they did something similar that we did capitalize and that’s how you lose.”

Niagara returns to the Gallagher Center to host the Hartford Hawks on Wednesday, Dec. 12 at 7 p.m.

For ticket information, contact the Niagara Athletic Ticket Office (located at Dwyer Arena) at 716-286-TIXX (8499), tickets@purpleeagles.com orwww.PurpleEagles.com/tickets.