NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – On an historic day for Niagara University Athletics, the Purple Eagles men's basketball team fell to archrival Canisius, 77-64, on Frank and Barbara Layden Court at the Gallagher Center.

Prior to tip-off, Niagara University officially unveiled the naming of the Gallagher Center Court after Frank ('55) and Barbara Layden. Frank played at Niagara from 1951-55 and coached at Niagara from 1968-76 where he led Niagara to its first-ever NCAA Tournament in 1970. Frank and his wife Barbara are known around the country for their compassion and generosity. The Laydens are strong supporters of many charitable causes including cancer awareness, crime prevention, and child abuse.

In attendance for the game were Naismith Hall of Famers and Niagara University alums Hubie Brown ('55) and Calvin Murphy ('70), and NBA coaching legend Jerry Sloan.

The Purple Eagles (1-5, 1-1 MAAC) and Golden Griffins (4-3, 2-0 MAAC) met on the hardwood for the 177th time with today's meeting in front of a national audience on ESPN3. NU, which had won 18 of the last 24 meetings, has now lost the last four encounters for its longest skid in the series since losing five straight from 1993-1995.

The first half was close throughout until Canisius built a 32-23 lead with four minutes remaining. The Purple Eagles answered by ending the half on an 11-2 run. The run was started on a free throw by Rayvon Harris and his block on Jermaine Crumpton's layup on the following possession led to a layup by Emile Blackman. Consecutive 3-pointers by Matt Scott and Blackman tied the game at 34-34 as the game went into halftime.

A jumper by Wesley Myers to open the second half put NU back in the lead at 36-34, and NU led 40-38 before going a four-minute scoreless streak. Canisius went on a 13-0 run to build an 11-point lead. NU trimmed the deficit to 63-57 with 6:18 left, but Canisius reeled off five straight points over the next five minutes as the Golden Griffins pulled away for the win.  

"We had two stretches – one in the first half and one in the second half - that cost us the game," head coach Chris Casey said. "We had lulls offensively and handled the ball poorly during those stretches and they capitalized on it. We continued to play hard, but we have to play better."

Scott, a freshman, led the Purple Eagles with a career-high 13 points while going perfect from the field (5-for-5), behind the 3-point line (2-for-2) and at the free-throw line (1-for-1).  Myers was the other Purple Eagle in double figures with 11 points. Harris, Snowden and Karonn Davis each had nine points.

Up next for the Purple Eagles is a trip to Davidson on Saturday, Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. Niagara defeated Davidson, 83-27, last season at the First Niagara Center in downtown Buffalo.