GAME 13
SCORE	Manhattan Jaspers 67, Niagara Purple Eagles 62
RECORDS	Manhattan (6-5, 2-0 MAAC), Niagara (3-10, 1-1 MAAC)
LEADING SCORERS	Manhattan – Tykei Greene (23) | Niagara – Greg Kuakumensah (13)
LOCATION	Gallagher Center

 
NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The Purple Eagles were edged by the Manhattan Jaspers, 67-62, on Sunday afternoon to split their conference opening weekend.

Game Summary
The outcome of the contest was decided in the final minute for the second straight meeting between the programs.
 
Niagara battled back from a 14-point deficit with 10 minutes remaining to trail 59-58 with five minutes left. The Jaspers' Pauly Paulicap scored a pair of layups to give Manhattan 63-58 lead while Raheem Solomon followed with a jumper as NU trailed 63-60 with three minutes left.
 
Both teams went cold from the field, combining to go 0-for-9, over the final minutes.
The Jaspers came up with a stop with 18 seconds left when Raheem Solomon was denied a layup. Manhattan's Samir Stewart made a pair of free throws to give Manhattan a 65-60 lead. James Towns scored on Niagara's next possession, but Tykei Green iced the game with two free throws to finish with a game-high 23 points.  
 
A Greg Kuakumensah layup tied the game at 13-13 with 9:15 left in the first half. However, Manhattan outscored Niagara 17-4 over the next five minutes for a 30-17 advantage. The Jasper went into halftime leading 35-23.
 
NU started the half on an 8-0 run with Marcus Hammond connecting on consecutive triples. Manhattan answered with an 11-2 run for a 46-33 lead and eventually led 57-43 for its largest lead of the game with 10 minutes remaining.
 
Niagara gradually chipped away at the deficit over the next five minutes. The Purple Eagles went 5-for-6, including 3-for-3 from behind the 3-point arc, from the field as part of a 15-2 run to trim the lead to 59-58.

Eagle's Eye On…

• Greg Kuakumensah collected his third double-double of the season with a team-high 13 points and a game-high 10 rebounds.
• Marcus Hammond scored 11 points on 3- of 5 shooting from 3-pointers.
• Nick MacDonald tied a career-high in points with 11.

Inside The Numbers

• Nine of the last 10 meetings have been decided by 10 points or less.
• Niagara committed 10 turnovers or less for the sixth straight game and had its eighth straight game with a positive assist-to-turnover ratio.
• The Purple Eagles outscored the Jaspers, 33-9, in bench points.

 
Up Next

• The Purple Eagles are back on the road to play the Quinnipiac Bobcats on Friday, January 10 at 7 p.m.
• Coverage of the game will be provided by ESPN 3 or + and by the Niagara Sports Network via WGR 550 AM and www.PurpleEagles.com/Watch.

 
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