GAME 9
SCORE	Rider Broncs 76, Niagara Purple Eagles 70
RECORDS	Rider (3-7, 3-4 MAAC), Niagara (4-5, 3-4 MAC)
LEADING SCORERS	Rider – Aijiri Ogemuno-Johnson (19), Niagara – Marcus Hammond (17)
LOCATION	Gallagher Center

NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – Marcus Hammond led the Purple Eagles in scoring and in rebounding as NU was edged by the Rider Broncs, 76-70, on Friday in the frontend of the two-game series.  

Game Summary
The final six minutes were played in a two-possession game. A pair of free throws by Marcus Hammond lifted NU ahead, 70-69, with 1:41 remaining. However, the Broncs finished the game on a 7-0 run, going 5-for-6 at the free-throw line.

The Purple Eagles, who went into halftime with a two-point lead, had to scrap back into the game in the second half with its defensive pressure.
Niagara led 32-21 with five minutes left in the first half before the Broncs closed the half on a 12-3 run to trail 35-33. Rider's run extended to 24-6 as the Broncs led 45-38 at the 15:54 mark in the second half.  

Trailing 62-53 with 7:27 remaining, the Purple Eagles soared ahead with a 12-2 run in nearly four minutes while forcing three turnovers during the spurt. The lead changed four times over the next four minutes and the game was tied at 70-70 heading into the final minute. Rider's Ajiri Ogemuno-Johnson's layup with 30 seconds remaining proved to be the game-winning points as the Broncs scored the final four points from the free-throw line.  

Eagle's Eye On…

• Marcus Hammond led the Purple Eagles in scoring with 17 points to be in double figures in seventh straight game and assists with a season-high five assists. He also added six rebounds.
• Raheem Solomon netted 13 points and grabbed six rebounds in 20 minutes.
• Kobi Nwandu registered his eighth straight game in double figures as he finished with 11 points.  
• Jordan Cintron grabbed a season-high eight rebounds to share game-high honors.

Inside The Numbers

• NU shot 55.6 percent from the field in the first half to shoot over 50 percent in the first half for the third time this season.
• The Purple Eagles outscored the Broncs in bench points (30-15).
• Niagara had a positive assist-to-turnover ratio for the sixth time this season.

 
Up Next

• The Purple Eagles conclude their two-game set with the Rider Broncs on Saturday at 4 p.m.
• Coverage of the game will be provided by ESPN3 and by the Niagara Sports Network via 107.3 FM/AM 1400 and www.PurpleEagles.com/Watch.

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