SCORE: Niagara Purple Eagles 95, Fairfield Stags 83
RECORD: Niagara (17-10, 10-4 MAAC), Fairfield (10-14, 5-8 MAAC)
LOCATION: Frank and Barbara Layden Court at the Gallagher Center
NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – Kahlil Dukes scored a game-high 22 points, while Matt Scott and Marvin Prochet each recorded double-doubles as the Purple Eagles sprinted past the Fairfield Stags, 95-83, on Saturday for their third straight win.
Game Summary
The Purple Eagles used a surge to end the first half to create separation from a tightly contested opening half featuring five lead changes. Niagara led 16-9 before the Stags took their third and final lead of the game at 23-22 with eight minutes left in the half. NU regained the lead on the next possession on a Dukes 3-pointer. After Fairfield tied the game at 27-27, Niagara answered with jumpers by Scott and Keleaf Tate. The Purple Eagles finished the last two minutes of the first half in a scoring frenzy. Leading 39-37, NU closed the half on a 10-2 run with Prochet providing eight points including a last-second dunk for a 49-39 halftime lead.
The run carried over to start the second half with a Kevin Larkin 3-pointer and a Greg King layup to push Niagara's lead to 54-39. The Stags battled back into the game with a 16-4 run to trim the lead to 58-55 with 15 minutes remaining.
The Purple Eagles coolly responded with a 15-4 run over the next five minutes. The tri-captains – Matt Scott, Marvin Prochet, and Kahlil Dukes – combined to score the opening nine points of the run to push their lead into the double-digits where it remained for the rest of the game.
Niagara's lead ballooned to 20 points after a Marvin Prochet layup with five minutes left as the Purple Eagles snapped a five-game losing streak to the Stags.
Eagle's Eye On…
- Kahlil Dukes led all scorers with 22 points for his MAAC-leading 18th 20-point game. Dukes, who also had a team-high four assists, extended his school record consecutive free throw streak to 37.
- Matt Scott had his MAAC-leading eighth double-double of the season with 19 points and 11 rebounds. He also chipped in three assists.
- Marvin Prochet scored 19 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for his sixth double-double of the season.
- Keleaf Tate added 10 points to be the fourth Purple Eagle in double figures.
Inside The Numbers
- Niagara is 10-2 in its last 12 games.
- The Purple Eagles, who lead the MAAC in scoring, had their third straight 90-point game. Niagara is 5-2 when scoring 90 or more points.
- The tri-captains – Matt Scott, Marvin Prochet, Kahlil Dukes, combined for 60 points including 35 of Niagara's 49 first half points.
- Niagara improved to 12-2 when leading at halftime.
- NU is 15-0 when having a better field goal percentage than its opponent.
- Kahlil Dukes has moved into a tie for fifth on the single-season 3-point chart at Niagara with 81.
- The lineup of Kahlil Dukes, Kevin Larkin, Matt Scott, Marvin Prochet and Greg King is 3-0.
Up Next
- The Purple Eagles will play their final two regular season road games starting next week on Friday, February 16 versus Iona at 7 p.m.
- The game will air on the Niagara Sports Network via WGR 550 AM and www.PurpleEagles.com/Watch. Video broadcast will be provided by ESPN3.
- 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.
