NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The Niagara Purple Eagles rallied from a double-digit deficit, but a 3-pointer in the final seconds by the defending MAAC Champions Iona Gaels led to a 90-89 setback on Friday night.

"I thought our team showed a lot of character being downed at the half and came back and made some plays in the second half with a lot of energy, enthusiasm and courage," head coach Chris Casey said. "I'm proud of our effort."

In a game full of runs, it was the visitors that came away victorious. Niagara (6-18, 3-10 MAAC) went a combined 0-for-8 from the field and free-throw line in the final two minutes as the Gaels (14-8, 11-2 MAAC) finished the game on an 8-0 run.

Niagara found itself trailing early in the game, before closing the half strong. Iona went on a 12-0 run to take a 15-5 lead and later built its largest lead of the game at 41-29 with 4:54 left in the first half. Niagara, though, closed the half on a 12-4 run which was capped by a tip-in by Ramone Snowden, who led NU with 11 points in the first half, at the buzzer.

The second half had six lead changes, beginning at the 17:08 mark when a driving layup by Rayvon Harris put Niagara back in front, 51-50, for the first time since the early minutes. The lead would flip three more times over the next three minutes before the Purple Eagles went on a surge. Wesley Myers, Antoine Mason and Snowden helped NU build a double-digit lead, and consecutive layups by Joe Thomas gave the Purple Eagles their largest lead of the game at 86-74 with 4:09 remaining.

Iona quickly trimmed the lead to 86-82 with two minutes left before Myers went coast-to-coast to score a layup while being fouled and completed the 3-point play on the ensuing free throw. From there, NU's shooting touch went cold which allowed Iona to capitalize. On Iona's final possession, Niagara nearly got a steal at the top of the perimeter, but the broken play benefitted the Gaels who connected a 3-pointer with eight seconds left. 

The Purple Eagles had two looks in the final eight seconds. Tahjere McCall missed his 3-pointer and Harris's putback jumper skimmed the front of the rim as time expired.

Snowden led Niagara with 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for his first career double-double. Harris had career-highs in points with 14 and rebounds with 12 en route to his first career double-double. Myers netted a career-high 16 points and had four rebounds. McCall added 12 points and seven rebounds. Mason, the nation's leading scorer, finished with 13 points to move into sixth all-time in career points.

NU had a health advantage in rebounding (48-30), in points in the paint, outscoring Iona 56-26, and blanked Iona in second chance points, 22-0.

The Purple Eagles continue their home weekend on Sunday against Manhattan at 2 p.m. The game will air on Lockport Community Television (LCTV), WGR 550 AM and Purple Eagles All-Access.

For ticket information, contact the Niagara Athletic Ticket Office 716-286-8499, tickets@PurpleEagles.com, and www.PurpleEagles.com/Tickets.