SCORE: Niagara 78, New Hampshire 70
RECORDS: Niagara (4-5, 0-0 MAAC), New Hampshire (2-7, 0-0 America East)
LOCATION: Lundholm Gymnasium – University of New Hampshire
 
DURHAM, N.H. – The nation's highest scoring duo, Matt Scott and Kahlil Dukes, continued its eye popping scoring by combining for 58 points to lift the Niagara Purple Eagles over the New Hampshire Wildcats, 78-70, on Tuesday.
 
Game Summary
In a game that featured 13 lead changes and several momentum shifts, the Purple Eagles stayed tough on their way to their second road win of the season. Niagara finished the final four minutes of the game on a decisive 13-2 run. Dukes connected on his eighth and final 3-pointer to tie the score at 68-68 with 3:58 left. A Matt Scott free throw on Niagara's next possession put Niagara in front for good. Two straight empty possessions by the Wildcats led to five straight points by Scott. He made a stepback jumper for a 71-68 lead, and on Niagara's next possession, he grabbed an offensive rebound and was fouled while converting a layup for a 3-point play and a 74-68 advantage with 1:32 remaining. UNH cut the lead to 74-70, but missed two shots with less than 38 seconds left. Dukes and Scott each made two free throws to wrap up the game.
 
The first half had five ties and six lead changes. Scott scored Niagara's first five points to give Niagara its first lead of the half at 5-4. The lead flipped three more times before the Purple Eagles built their largest lead of the half. Dukes connected on consecutive triples and a put back layup by Keleaf Tate gave the Purple Eagles a 28-22 advantage with 6:25 left in the half. However, the Purple Eagles had a scoring drought of five minutes, which allowed the Wildcats to close the half on a 12-3 run for a 34-31 halftime lead.
 
Niagara opened the second half on 13-3 run, including scoring 11 straight, for a 44-37 lead. NU led until the 8:32 mark when UNH took a brief 61-59 lead as the lead changed on the next three possessions.
 
Eagle's Eye On…

• Kahlil Dukes notched his first career 30-point with a game-high 31-point effort tonight. Dukes, who scored 22 points in the second half, went 8 for 11 from beyond the 3-point line.
• Matt Scott, the two-time reigning MAAC Player of the Week, poured in 27 points and grabbed eight rebounds.
• Greg King scored seven points and had eight rebounds in his first career start as a Purple Eagle.
• Freshman Keleaf Tate scored nine points.

 
Inside The Numbers

• Kahlil Dukes' eight 3-pointers are tied for the second most in program history and the most since Marvin Jordan's eight 3-pointers against Rider on Feb. 5, 2012. Dukes' eight 3-pointers are the most in the MAAC and tied for sixth most in the NCAA this season.
• Matt Scott and Kahlil Dukes combined for 58 points, including 39 of Niagara's 47 - second half points.
• NU outscored UNH, 22-14, in paint points, and outrebounded New Hampshire, 37-30.

 
Up Next

• Niagara returns to the Gallagher Center to host St. Francis (Pa.) on Sunday, Dec. 2 at 2 p.m.
• At halftime, the Purple Eagles will unfurl the banner of Juan Mendez ('05).
• For ticket information, contact the Niagara Athletic Ticket Office at 716-286-TIXX, tickets@Niagara.edu, or www.PurpleEagles.com/Tickets.

 
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