GAME 7
SCORE	Niagara Purple Eagles 93, Colgate Raiders 82 (Overtime)
RECORDS	Niagara (2-5) | Colgate (6-4)
LEADING SCORERS	Niagara – James Towns (26) | Colgate – Tucker Richardson (23)
LOCATION	Gallagher Center

 
NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The Purple Eagles picked up their second straight win in a gutsy performance against the defending Patriot League champion and unanimous preseason favorite Colgate Raiders, 93-82, on Sunday.

Game Summary
The Purple Eagles erased a 16-point first half deficit, watched Colgate rallied in the final minute to send the game into overtime, and then powered past the Raiders in overtime in a suspenseful contest.  

Colgate jumped out to a double-digit lead in part to its 3-point shooting. The Raiders built a 22-8 lead by making 6 of 9 3-pointers. The Raiders' seventh triple pushed their lead to 27-11 with 10:53 remaining in the half. Trailing 36-22 at the 7:41 mark, the Purple Eagles charge back into the game with a 17-4 explosion in a five-minute span. Niagara connected on 7 of 9 shots led by Raheem Solomon's five points, while the Raiders went cold from the field, shooting 1-for-7 from the field including missing six 3-pointers.

The Purple Eagles, who trailed 42-39 at halftime, took their first lead of the game as part of a 10-3 run to start the second half. After Colgate regained the lead at 57-55 with 11:25 on the clock, NU scored the next five points for a 60-57 lead. The Purple Eagles gradually built a 72-66 lead heading into the final four minutes of the half. NU led 78-70 with 1:53 on the clock before the Raiders closed the second half on a 10-2 run which was capped by Jordan Burns' 3-pointer with nine seconds left to tie the game at 80-80.  

The Purple Eagles showed great poise in overtime as they dominated the extra period. A James Towns jumper in the paint opened the scoring two minutes into the period. Greg Kuakumensah scored on the next possession and Marcus Hammond netted the next five points, including a bank 3-pointer, as part of 9-0 run. Colgate's lone basket was with 52 seconds left as the Purple Eagles outscored the Raiders, 13-2, in overtime.
 
Eagle's Eye On…

• James Towns poured in a game-high 26 points for a new season-high. His 66.7 field goal percent is also a season-high. Towns went 9-for-10 from the free-throw line, grabbed seven rebounds, had three assists, and two steals.
• Greg Kuakumensah netted a season-high 18 points on 8 of 9 shooting from the field, including going 2-for-2 from 3-pointers.
• Raheem Solomon scored 16 points and led the team in steals with a career-high four.
• Marcus Hammond had 11 points while also leading the team in rebounds with eight and in assists with six.  

 
Inside The Numbers

• Niagara set season-highs in points (93), field goals made (33), 3-pointers (9), free throw percentage (.783), and steals (13).
• NU outscored Colgate in bench points (54-17), points off turnovers (22-11), paint points (38-32), and fast break points (25-16).
• The Purple Eagles have won consecutive games for the first time since January 2019.
• Niagara won its first single overtime game in seven seasons.  The Purple Eagles defeated Iona, 93-90, at the Gallagher Center on January 31, 2013.
• Niagara improved to 34-15 all-time against Colgate. This was the first meeting between the programs since December 2000.

Up Next

• The Purple Eagles start another road trip next week when they play against the Albany Great Danes on Saturday, December 14 at 7 p.m.
• Coverage of the game will be provided by the Niagara Sports Network via WGR 550 AM and www.PurpleEagles.com/Watch. 

 
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