Game Summary
Tonight's meeting featured 12 ties and 10 lead changes in a highly entertaining contest. Niagara led 73-71 with 3 minutes on the clock before the Great Danes used a 10-0 run over the next the 2:30 to pull ahead.  

After Albany's Romani Hansen's dunk tied the game at 73-73, the Purple Eagles had two chances to retake the lead on their next possession, but came away with no points. On the next possession, Albany's Trey Hutcheson gathered the loose ball and connected on a 3-pointer to put Albany ahead 76-73.

After an empty Niagara possession, the turning point of the game occurred on Albany's next possession. Malachi De Sousas was fouled driving towards the basket. However before the foul, Towns was called for flopping for the second time in the game which resulted into a technical foul. Cameron Healy made the technical free throw followed by De Sousa's two free throws to give the Great Danes a 79-73 lead with 59 seconds remaining. Albany added two more free throw before a Towns jumper halted the 10-0 run with 27 seconds left.

The Purple Eagles outscored the Great Danes 19-5 in the final 7:28 of the first half, including ending the half on a 7-0 run, for a 40-29 halftime lead. Niagara made 8 of 11 shots during that stretch.

Trailing 17-11, Raheem Solomon and Marcus Hammond combined to score seven straight points as NU went back in front, 18-17, with 11 minutes left in the first half. Albany answered with a 7-3 spurt over the next two minutes for a 24-21 advantage. Hammond jumpstarted the 19-5 run with a jumper and Solomon pushed Niagara ahead, 25-24, with a basket at the 6:28 mark. James Towns drained a 3-pointer and Nicholas Kratholm made a jumper as part of a 9-0 run and a 30-24 lead. Albany cut the lead to 33-29 with 2:28 remaining before halftime, but NU closed the half with seven straight points with three different Purple Eagles scoring.

Niagara maintained its lead six minutes into the second half. Albany tied the game at 48-48 behind a 10-2 run.  Over the next 11 minutes, there would be five lead changes and seven ties with the final tie coming with the score knotted at 73-73.  

Eagle's Eye On…

• James Towns scored a team-high 25 points for his second straight 20-point game.
• Marcus Hammond tied a career-high in scoring with 18 points, led NU in assists with six, and shared team-high honors in rebounds with four.
• Raheem Solomon scored 17 points, including going 6-for-6 at the free-throw line, grabbed four rebounds to share team-high marks, and had team-highs in steals with two and in blocks with one.

Inside The Numbers

• Niagara shot a season-high 92.9 percent (13-for-14) from the free-throw line and made a season-high eleven 3-pointers.

Up Next

• The Purple Eagles continue their road trip against Little 3 rival St. Bonaventure on Wednesday December 18 at 7 p.m.
• Coverage of the game will be provided by ESPN+ and by the Niagara Sports Network via WGR 550 AM and www.PurpleEagles.com/Watch. 

 
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