NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The Niagara University men's basketball team was unable to hold off a second half rally by the Rider Broncs in a 66-60 defeat on Friday night.

Emile Blackman led Niagara with 17 points to finish in double figures for the sixth consecutive game. Matt Scott had his sixth double-double of the season with 16 points and a team-high 11 rebounds, and Dominic Robb contributed 12 points and eight rebounds.

The Purple Eagles (6-18; 4-9 MAAC) built a 12-point lead in the first half and went into halftime leading 32-24. NU had a stretch where it led for 26 minutes until Rider (10-14; 6-7 MAAC) regained its first lead since three minutes into the game when Khalil Thomas converted a three-point play to put Rider in front 46-45 with 9:30 left. Over the next four minutes, the lead alternated six times and the score was either tied or was a one-point advantage. However, a 6-0 run by the Broncs gave them a 58-51 lead with 3:30 remaining.

A three-point play by Blackman cut the lead to 61-56 with 1:46 remaining. After an empty Rider possession, Matt Scott made a layup to trim the deficit to 61-58 with 1:03 left, but it would be the closet the Purple Eagles would get. Rider's Xavier Lundy made 3 of 4 free throws on the next two possessions. A Scott layup with nine seconds left got NU within 64-60, but Teddy Okereafor made two free throws to seal the game.

Niagara hosts Iona on Sunday at 2 p.m. The game will air live on Time Warner Cable SportsChannel and on the Niagara Sports Network via PurpleEagles.com and WGR 550 AM.

For ticket information, contact the Niagara Athletic Ticket Office at 716-286-8499.

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