SCORE: BYU 95, Niagara 88
RECORDS: BYU (3-1, 0-0 WCC), Niagara (1-3, 0-0 MAAC)
LOCATION: Marriott Center – Brigham Young University
Barclays Center Classic Opening Round
 
PROVO, UTAH – Matt Scott's career-high 36 points were not enough to hold off a second-half rally by the BYU Cougars as the Purple Eagles fell 95-88 on Tuesday night.
 
Game Summary
A late flurry in the second half pushed the Cougars past a pesky Purple Eagle team. Niagara went into halftime with a 34-31 advantage and had its largest lead of the game after Kahlil Dukes connected on one of his four 3-pointers for a 43-37 lead with 15:52 remaining.
 
BYU used a 7-0 run in a two-minute span to regain the lead, but the Purple Eagles remained in striking distance. Trailing 65-57, Niagara went on an 8-2 run capped by a Matt Scott layup to trim the deficit to 67-65 with 6:18 left. However, the Cougars responded with a 10-2 run to create separation.
 
NU shrugged off a slow start to the game on its way to a halftime lead. BYU went up 6-0, as Niagara missed its first seven shots. However, the Purple Eagles outscored the Cougars 18-7 in five minutes for an 18-13 lead, behind Scott's 12 points. After three lead changes and three ties, Scott put Niagara back in front in the final seconds of the first half. Scott stole the ball from Kajon Brown and made a layup while being fouled; he converted the free throw for his 15^th point of the half.
 
Eagle's Eye On…

• Matt Scott led all scorers with a career-high 36 points, the most in the MAAC this season, for his fifth career 30-point game. Scott had seven rebounds and had a game-high three steals.
• Kahlil Dukes scored 20 points, 18 in the second half, for his third 20-point game of the season.
• Chris Barton added 10 points for his second straight game in double figures.
• Marvin Prochet had a game-high eight rebounds.

 
Inside The Numbers

• Tonight was the first meeting between the programs since December 1976.
• There were 10 lead changes and four ties.  
• Kahlil Dukes extended his consecutive free throw made streak to 15, while Chris Barton has made his last 10.
• Matt Scott (5) and Kahlil Dukes (4) made nine of Niagara's ten 3-pointers.

 
Up Next

• Niagara will play its first home games of the season as part of the Barclays Center Classic Campus Round on Nov. 24-25. The Purple Eagles face Alabama A&M on Friday at 4 p.m., and will play on Saturday against either Western Carolina or UT Arlington at 7 p.m.
• Listen to Friday's game on the Niagara Sports Network via AM 1400 WWWS.
• For ticket information, contact the Niagara Athletic Ticket Office at 716-286-TIXX, tickets@Niagara.edu, or www.PurpleEagles.com/Tickets.

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