Box Score

NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The Niagara Purple Eagles opened their 2013-14 schedule by cruising to an 82-44 victory over the Roberts Wesleyan Redhawks on Friday night.

Four Purple Eagles scored in double figures, led by senior Marvin Jordan's game-high 21 points on 8-for-16 shooting from the field.  Antoine Mason added 18 points, while newcomers Cameron Fowler and Wesley Myers scored 11 and 10 points, respectively. Defensively, Niagara forced 20 turnovers and held the Redhawks, a Division II school based in Rochester, N.Y., to 32 percent shooting and 1-for-15 from behind the arc.

"We played with good energy and effort (tonight)," said head coach Chris Casey, who was making his Division I head coaching debut in front of the Gallagher Center crowd. "Our defense was solid and I thought we rebounded the ball well. Offensively, we did some good things getting everybody involved. We got up and the down the floor in transition well and made some open shoots."

Niagara seized control of the game with a first half run. Leading 12-11 with 13:37 left in the half, the Purple Eagles reeled off a 17-3 run over the next six minutes. Niagara remained in control for the reminder of the half and took a 41-21 halftime lead on a fast break layup by Myers with 43 seconds left.

The Purple Eagles' lead gradually increased in the second half as 10 of the 11 players scored in the game. The lead ballooned to its largest, 82-42, when Myers drained a 3-pointer with 33 seconds remaining.

Several Purple Eagles made their debut wearing the Purple and White and a few had efficient performances. Fowler led the game in assists with five and had six rebounds in a game-high 35 minutes. Rayvon Harris, who redshirted last season after transferring from Rhode Island, had nine points and a team-high eight rebounds. Myers finished with three assists and five boards.

Niagara is back on the court on Friday, Nov. 1 when it hosts Buffalo State at 7 p.m. For ticket information, contact the ticket office at 716-286-8499 (TIXX), www.PurpleEagles.com/Tickets, or tickets@purpleeagles.com.