Niagara University Athletics

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Niagara men's basketball team (0-2) dropped a tough-fought game to No. 17 Ohio State (2-0) on Friday night, falling to the Buckeyes by just 10 points, 84-74.

Game Recap
First Half

• Marcus Hammond opened scoring for the Purple Eagles with a 3-pointer to give Niagara an early 3-2 lead less than one minute into the first half.
• Down by three, 8-5, two triples, a layup and a free throw from Hammond comprised a 9-0 Purple Eagles run that put them ahead of the Buckeyes, 14-8.
• A trey from Justin Roberts with 14:15 left in the half kept Niagara in the lead, 17-13.
• The Buckeyes went on an 8-0 run to take the lead, 21-17.
• A jumper from Sam Iorio put Niagara within two points of the Buckeyes, 21-19. He followed that up by converting a 3-point play to leave NU down by just one point, 23-22.
• With a little over 10:45 remaining in the half, Jordan Cintron sank a three to keep Niagara within one, 26-25.
• Another triple from Cintron and two points each from Rob Brown III and Nicholas Kratholm tied the score, 34-34, and a jumper from Hammond put NU back on top, 36-34.
• The Buckeyes took a three-point lead, 42-39, but a jumper from Noah Thomasson as time expired left the Purple Eagles trailing by just one point, 42-41, going into halftime.

Second Half

• The Buckeyes went on a 6-0 run to open the half and extend their lead, 48-41.
• A dunk from Cintron and a 3-pointer from Iorio put Niagara within two points of Ohio State, 48-46.
• Ohio State took a nine-point lead, 58-49, with a little under 14 minutes to go in the game. Two points from Touba Traore cut the Buckeyes' lead to seven, 58-51.
• 3-pointers from Hammond and Iorio left Niagara trailing by just seven points, 64-57, with a little under 10 minutes remaining in the game.
• Another trey and two free throws from Iorio kept the Purple Eagles within seven, 74-67, with about three and a half minutes left.
• With less than 30 seconds to go, Cintron made his third 3-point shot of the game. The Purple Eagles, however, could not overcome the Buckeyes' lead, falling to Ohio State by just 10 points, 84-74.

Eagle's Eye On

• Hammond led the Purple Eagles with 22 points. Iorio added 18 points and Cintron had 17.
• Cintron went 3-for-3 from 3-point range. His three 3-pointers tie his career-high.
• Hammond, Iorio and Cintron shared the team lead in rebounding with six rebounds each.
• Thomasson dished out a team-high four assists.
• Cintron led the Purple Eagles in steals with three.
• The Purple Eagles shot 52.4 percent from 3-point range.

Up Next

• The Purple Eagles will compete in The YSU/J. Arnold Wealth Management Company Basketball Tournament Nov. 19-21 with games against SIUE, St. Thomas and Youngstown State.

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