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Niagara University Athletics

81
Niagara NIA 1-1
107
Winner Minnesota MINN 3-0
Niagara NIA
1-1
81
Final
107
Minnesota MINN
3-0
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Niagara NIA 38 43 81
Minnesota MINN 48 59 107

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Respectable Showing For Purple Eagles In Defeat At No. 14/15 Minnesota

SCORE: No. 14/15 Minnesota 107, Niagara 81
RECORDS: No. 14/15 Minnesota (3-0), Niagara (1-1)
LOCATION: William Arena – University of Minnesota
 
MINNEAPOLIS – The Niagara Purple Eagles challenged the No. 14/15 Minnesota Golden Gophers deep into the second half before falling 107-81 on Wednesday night.
 
Game Summary
Niagara twice held double-digit leads over the 14th ranked Gophers in the first half and had the Golden Gophers on their heels through the opening 10 minutes. Matt Scott scored the game's first points with a jumper, and that was followed by 3-pointers from Kahlil Dukes and Chris Barton for an 8-2 Niagara lead after two minutes. Niagara's lead increased to double-digit with baskets by Dominic Robb and Scott for a 12-2 NU advantage. As the Golden Gophers began to settle into the game over their next few possessions, Niagara's hot shooting continued as a 3-pointer by Marvin Prochet gave Niagara a 25-15 lead with 11:22 remaining the half.
 
The Golden Gophers tied the game with a 15-5 run over the next 6:29. The Purple Eagles went back in front twice before Minnesota took its first lead, 36-34, with 4:57 remaining in the half. Dominic Robb tied the game with a hook shot on Niagara's next possession, but the Golden Gophers finished the half on a 12-2 run to take a 48-38 lead into the break.
 
Dukes opened the second half with a 3-pointer to cut Minnesota's lead to 48-41. However, the Gophers immediately answered with an 8-0 run to extend their lead to 15. Minnesota led 63-46 when the Purple Eagles went on a run to get back into the game. The duo of Scott and Dukes combined to score all 16 points during Niagara's 16-2 run to cut the lead to 65-62 with 11:35 left; Scott scored the first five with Dukes providing the next 11. A James Towns jumper trimmed the deficit to 68-66 with 9:53 on the clock. However, Minnesota reeled off 17 straight points in a three-minute span to pull away for the win.
 
Eagle's Eye On…
  • Kahlil Dukes netted a season-high 26 points for game-high honors. Dukes went 7-for-15 from the field, made a game-high five 3-pointers, and went a perfect 7-for-7 at the free-throw line.
  • Two Purple Eagles notched double-doubles.
  • Matt Scott had 17 points and 11 rebounds for his 11th career double-double; his career-high three blocks led NU
  • Marvin Prochet had 10 points and 12 rebounds for his second career double-double.
 
Inside The Numbers
  • The Purple Eagles played their first ranked opponent in five seasons.
  • Niagara went 14-for-14 from the free-throw line.
  • Niagara made a season-high eleven 3-pointers with five different Purple Eagles with a 3-pointer.
 
Up Next
  • Niagara continues its four-game road trip against UMass on Sunday, Nov. 19 at Noon.
  • Listen to the game on the Niagara Sports Network via AM 1400 WWWS and www.PurpleEagles.com/Watch.  Video coverage will be on A-10 Network.
 
Follow Niagara Athletics on Twitter @NUPurpleEagles and for men's basketball updates at @NiagaraMBB. Check in with the Purple Eagles on Facebook/PurpleEagles and on Instagram @NUPurpleEagles
 
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