Postgame Inforgraphic

NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The Niagara men's basketball team was led by three freshmen scoring in double figures as the Purple Eagles topped the Manhattan Jaspers, 73-61, on Friday night.

The freshman trio of Matt Scott, Karonn Davis and Dominique Reid accounted for 49 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists to help Niagara (3-8, 2-1 MAAC) earn its second straight win and to improve to 2-1 in MAAC play.  Scott scored a game-high and Purple Eagle season-high 23 points on 7 of 11 shooting from the field, went 7-for-10 at the free-throw line and had six rebounds. Davis added 14 points and six rebounds, while Reid scored 12 points and had a team- and career-best five assists.

From the opening tip, the Purple Eagles controlled the game and patiently broke through Manhattan's full court press. After trailing 2-0 for its only deficit of the game, Niagara would make eight of its first 10 shots to take a 19-10 lead after seven minutes.  The efficient shooting continued for the rest of the half; the Purple Eagles shot a season-best 65 percent from the field en route to a season-high 42 points and an 18-point halftime lead.

"In the first half our ball movement was outstanding," head coach Chris Casey said.  "We put up 42 points and that was with 14 turnovers. If there is such a thing, I would call them good turnovers because they were from attack mode and they weren't careless turnovers."

Niagara pushed its lead to 20 points twice earlier in the second half, before Manhattan (4-8, 1-2 MAAC) cut the lead to single digits, 60-51, with 7:20 left. However, the Purple Eagles answered with seven straight points from Scott and Davis in a two-minute span as they pushed back the Jaspers in the final minutes.

"We stayed tough because we knew they were going to make a run back at us," Casey said. "We made just enough shots, just enough free throws and got just enough stops. I thought that was a terrific effort by our guys against a very, very good team, a tough team and a very well coached team"

The Purple Eagles finished with season-highs in points (73), field goal percentage (59.5%), 3-point field goal percentage (53.8%) and in assists (21).

NU will host Monmouth (6-7, 3-0 MAAC) on Sunday at 2 p.m. in the last game of its current four-game homestand. For ticket information, contact the Niagara Athletic Ticket Office at 716-286-8499.