SCORE: Niagara 77, Army 71
RECORDS: Niagara (3-4, 0-0 MAAC), Army (3-2, 0-0 Patriot League)
LOCATION: Frank and Barbara Layden Court at the Gallagher Center
NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – Niagara's defense and 3-point shooting in the second half lifted the Purple Eagles to a 77-71 win over the Army West Point Black Knights on Monday night.
Game Summary
Facing off for the first time since the 1989-90 season, the Purple Eagles had to erase a seven-point halftime deficit to come away with the win. Army led for the entire game until the 8:33 mark in the second half. The Black Knights led 53-43 with 14:18 remaining in the game when the Purple Eagles staged their comeback. Niagara went on an 11-0 run, with four different Purple Eagles scoring, in five-plus minutes to take its first lead of the game at 54-53.
A 3-pointer by James Towns with six minutes remaining put the Purple Eagles up 57-55 for a lead they maintained. Towns' triple, which he drained as the shot clock expired, started an 11-2 run. Army cut the lead to 72-69 with 1:05 left, but Niagara iced the game at the free-throw line while coming up with stops on defense. The Purple Eagles made five free throws in the final minute while Army went 1-for-6 from the field.
Army jumped out to a 10-4 lead and led as much as 10 points in the first half. Niagara reeled off 10 straight points, highlighted by consecutive 3-pointers by Scott and Keleaf Tate, to tie the game at 33-33. However, the Black Knights closed the half on a 7-0 run to take a 40-33 lead.
Eagle's Eye On…
- Matt Scott, who leads the MAAC and is tied for fifth in the nation in scoring, led Niagara with 25 points for his 27th career 20-point game. He grabbed 10 rebounds for his second double-double of the season and his team-best six assists are a season-high.
- Marvin Prochet led the Purple Eagles in rebounds with a new career-high 15 and added 12 points for his second double-double of the season. Prochet tied a career-high with three steals and had a team-high two blocks.
- Freshman Keleaf Tate set a pair of career-highs with 11 points and five rebounds.
- Greg King recorded new career high figures with five points and two steals.
- James Towns had nine points and three assists for the Purple Eagles.
Inside The Numbers
- Niagara outscored Army, 44-31, in the second half.
- NU held a substantial advantage at the free-throw line in the game: Niagara (19-for-30), Army (2-for-7).
- The Purple Eagles made 6 of 10 3-pointers in the second half.
- Matt Scott has now recorded 20 or more points in his last five games.
- Niagara improved to 2-1 at home for the first time since Nov. 2012.
- The Purple Eagles established a new team high in rebounds with 44 and tied a season high in blocks with six.
Up Next
- The Purple Eagles close out their four-game homestand against Big 4 rival Buffalo on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
- Audio coverage on the Niagara Sports Network via WGR 550 AM and video coverage provided by LCTV.
- 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