SCORE: Niagara Purple Eagles 105, Canisius Golden Griffins 89
RECORDS: Niagara (14-9, 7-3 MAAC), Canisius (13-9, 7-2 MAAC)
LOCATION: Koessler Athletic Center – Canisius College
BUFFALO, N.Y. –The Niagara University Purple Eagles set season-highs in points, field goal percentage, free throws made, 3-pointers made, and in 3-point field goal percentage en route to defeating rival Canisius, 105-89, on Saturday night.
Game Summary
Niagara set the tone and pace of the game in the first half while using a 16-2 run to create separation. Trailing 9-2 through the opening three-plus minutes, Niagara chipped away at the deficit and eventually went ahead, 14-13, as part of a 7-0 run.
After Canisius regained the lead at 15-14, Matt Scott drained a 3-pointer to give the Purple Eagles a lead they would not relinquish. Kahlil Dukes, then, connected on consecutive 3-pointers for a 23-15 lead 10 minutes into the game as NU outscored Canisius, 16-2, in four-plus minutes.
NU extended its lead to 37-22 with 4:55 left in the first half as part of an 8-0 run with Dukes providing two 3-pointers in the run. James Towns hit the last of eight first half 3-pointers to build Niagara's largest lead of the half, 44-24, with 2:36 remaining in the opening stanza.
The Purple Eagles pushed their lead to 22 points, the largest of the game, two minutes into the second half. Canisius gradually cut into Niagara's lead and trailed 73-63 with less than seven minutes remaining. However, a quick 5-0 spurt by Towns halted the Griffins' momentum. Niagara, which held a double-digit lead since the five-minute mark in the first half, finished the game making five straight field goals and 23 straight free throws. Towns capped the scoring with a 3-pointer to give Niagara its most points at the Koessler Athletic Center in program history.
Eagle's Eye On…
- James Towns led Niagara with a career-high 31 points, including 20 in the second half, on 9 of 11 shooting from the field which is a season-high field goal percentage by a Purple Eagles, and made a team-high nine free throws on 10 attempts. Towns tied a season-high in 3-pointers by making all four attempts.
- Matt Scott, who leads all active MAAC players in career double-doubles, added to the total with 23 points and a game-high 11 rebounds for his seventh double-double of the season.
- Kahlil Dukes netted 28 points, including six 3-pointers, and went a perfect 8-for-8 at the free-throw line.
- Marvin Prochet added 12 points, including going a season-best 6-for-6 at the free-throw line.
- Greg King and Greg Kuakumensah had eight and seven rebounds, respectively.
Inside The Numbers
- Niagara has won three straight in the series for the first since winning five in-a-row from February 2011 to January 2013.
- Niagara set season-highs in points (105), field goal percentage (.525), 3-point field goal percentage (.577), and 3-pointers made (15). Niagara also shot 87.5 percent (28-for-32) from the free-throw line.
- The Purple Eagles' 105 points are the most in the MAAC this season and the most since scoring 105 in double overtime against Quinnipiac on February 1, 2015.
- Niagara's 19-point halftime lead was the largest this season.
- Niagara's eight 3-pointers in the first half were two shy of tying a program record for 3-pointers in a half.
- Kahlil Dukes has made 17 consecutive free throws.
- Niagara has scored 90-plus points in four straight games against Canisius.
- The Purple Eagles have won seven of their last eight games.
- Niagara is 5-2 in its last seven trips to Canisius.
- NU improved to 8-4 on the road the season for its most road wins since the 2008-09 season.
- This is first time Niagara has scored 100-plus points against Canisius since a 113-101 win on February 16, 2005.
- Niagara scored 100-plus points in regulation for the first time in four seasons.
- Niagara is 7-1 in the month of January for its best January mark since going 9-1 in 2013.
- The Purple Eagles have defeated two Big 4 teams (St. Bonaventure, Canisius) in the same season since the 2010-11 season.
Up Next
- Niagara continues its stretch of three straight road games against Saint Peter's on Friday, February 2 at 7 p.m.
- The game will air on the Niagara Sports Network via WGR 550 AM.
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