BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – The Niagara men’s basketball team grinded out a 67-64 win over the Fairfield Stags on Sunday for its fifth straight conference victory. Niagara remains at the top of the conference with a 5-1 record, which is its best start to MAAC play since the 2007-08 season.

The Purple Eagles (9-8, 5-1 MAAC) needed a total team effort to sweep the season series with Fairfield for the first time since the 2008-09 season. Niagara answered Fairfield on each possession in the final minutes with clutch plays: put back layups, causing turnovers and making free throws.

“Our team had an attitude today and we competed like crazy,” head coach Joe Mihalich said. “We had a confidence and competitive nature about ourselves. We dealt with some adversity, but at the end of the day, winners win and our kids figured out how to win.”

Leading 63-62 with under 55 seconds left, a T.J. Cline layup gave NU a 3-point advantage. On Fairfield’s next possession, Desmond Wade was fouled a 3-pointer with two seconds remaining; Wade made 2-of-3 free throws. On the en suing possession, Antoine Mason was fouled and he calmly drained two free throws as NU led 67-64. Wade missed his halfcourt shot as time expired.

NU used a balanced first half to take a 37-33 halftime lead. Nine different Purple Eagles scored in the half, made 10 of their 13 free throw attempts and forced nine Fairfield (10-8, 2-4 MAAC) turnovers, Trailing 18-10, the Purple Eagles went on a 16-4 run with Mason scoring all of his 11 first half points during the stretch; Mason has now scored in double figures in 24 straight games.

Fairfield opened the second half by scoring the first five points as each teams exchanged the lead over the next five minutes. A layup by Ameen Tanksley gave NU its largest lead of the game, 56-49, before the Stags ran off an 11-3 run to take their final lead of the game with 5:35 remaining.  The go-ahead points came when Mason striped Wade to create a 2-on-1 break where he dished the ball to backcourt teammate Juan'ya Green for the layup with 3:35 on the clock.

“We made some tough baskets and we held off just enough to stop them,” Mihalich stated. “A key factor in the game was they are a terrific defensive team and we only committed five turnovers; we’re really proud of that.”

NU scored 20 points off of 16 Fairfield turnovers. The Purple Eagles also went 19-for-23 at the charity stripe, including a career-best 12-for-12 by Mason who also led the game with 17 points. Cline finished with 12 points and Tanksley added 10 points.

Niagara returns to the Gallagher Center on Thursday, Jan. 17 to host the Siena Saints 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 or www.PurpleEagles.com/tickets.