NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The Niagara men's basketball team officially opened its 2013-14 home schedule by holding off Big 4 rival Buffalo, 92-81, on Wednesday night.

Niagara (1-1) has now won six of its last seven home openers and improves to 4-1 against UB (0-2) in home openers since 1979. The Purple Eagles, who led as much as 16 points late in the first half, held off a late Bulls' run in the second half en route to their first win over UB since Nov. 25, 2008 and their first in the Gallagher Center since Nov. 20, 2007.

"It was a hard fought game and we were fortunate," said head coach Chris Casey, who earned his first win at Niagara. "We made one or two more plays and one or two more free throws and came out on the positive end of a very, very hard fought game."

After trailing in the early minutes, Niagara went on a 14-3 run to lead 16-8 after 12 minutes. The Purple Eagles' lead grew to 16 points after a free throw by Tahjere McCall with 20 seconds left in the half as NU went into the half leading 47-33. NU shot 43 percent from the field and 87 percent from the charity strip. Junior Antoine Mason and freshman Ramone Snowden were already in double figures by the half with 13 and 10, respectively.

The Bulls charged out of the gate to start the second half, trimming Niagara's lead to 48-44 with 17:24 remaining. Though, NU responded with a 12-4 spurt over the next three minutes. The Purple Eagles were again challenged by another run by the visitors. The Bulls cut Niagara's lead to 83-79 with 3:30 left in the game after two free throws by Javon Mcrea, who finished with a game-high 31 points and 14 rebounds. On the next possession, McCall drained a pair of free throws as Niagara would hold UB to two points for the rest of the game. The Purple Eagles' 92 points were the most against UB since Dec. 2004.

Niagara finished with four players in double figures scoring. Leading the way for Niagara was Mason who followed his career-high 34-point effort in the season opener with 25 points on 8-for-14 shooting from the field and 7-for-11 at the free-throw line. Joining Mason was a pair of Purple Eagles who set career-highs in points in Snowden and McCall with 15 points; both players also grabbed eight rebounds. Marcus Ware scored 11 points for his second straight game in double figures.

Niagara will now venture on a six-game road trip beginning next week in Kent, Ohio as the Purple Eagles participate in the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic Subregional to face USC Upstate (Nov. 21), Western Carolina (Nov. 22) and Kent State (Nov. 23).