NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The Niagara men's basketball team dropped a 69-60 decision to the Rider Broncs on Sunday at the Gallagher Center.

A game changing second half run by the visitors propelled the Broncs to their fifth straight win in the series.

The Purple Eagles (4-21, 3-13 MAAC) had a substantial edge in rebounds,38-19 including 11-2 in offensive rebounds, led by Ramone Snowden's game-high 10 boards and Wesley Myers' career-high eight. Though, NU had its second most turnovers (20) of the season, which led to 18 points, while Rider shot over 55 percent (10-for-18) from behind the arc.

"We have to learn how to win," head coach Chris Casey said. "We played well in spurts, but we need to be better defensively and to not turnover the ball 20 times."

NU started the game perfect from the field (3-for-3), 3-point line (1-for-1) and at the free-throw line (2-for-2) as the Purple Eagles held a 9-8 lead through four minutes. The rest of first half was played in a six-point window with the NU building its largest lead of the game at the 2:58 mark.

Trailing 26-25, a 3-pointer by Matt Scott sparked a 7-0 run as the Purple Eagles led 32-26 with 2:58 left. However, Rider (18-9, 12-4 MAAC) closed the half on a 7-1 run to the game at 33-33.

The Purple Eagles lead 40-36 with 17:14 remaining, but the Broncs reeled off a 20-4 run spanning eight minutes with NU going scoreless for nearly six minutes. A 3-pointer by Myers cut the lead to 56-51 with 7:13 left, but six straight points by Rider helped it pull away.

"When we get to a point where we have a chance to extend our lead, we have to have a good possession or have to string together some stops defensively," Casey said.

Emile Blackman led NU with 13 points, followed by Scott with 12 and Dominique Reid with 11.

Niagara begins a three-game road trip with its first meeting against the Fairfield Stags on Thursday, Feb. 19 at 7 p.m.