NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The Purple Eagles (3-4, 0-1 MAAC) were defeated by Monmouth (6-1, 1-0 MAAC), 57-49, to open MAAC play on Friday night.

Game Recap
First Half

• Niagara opened the half on a 6-0 run, keeping the Hawks scoreless for almost five and a half minutes. Sam Iorio, Noah Thomasson and Greg Kuakumensah all contributed buckets for NU.
• The Hawks came within two points of the Purple Eagles, 8-6, with a little over 13 minutes to go, but a jumper from Touba Traore put Niagara up by four, 10-6.
• Layups from Rob Brown III, Jordan Cintron and Marcus Hammond kept the Purple Eagles in the lead, 17-15, with seven minutes left in the first half.
• Iorio sank a triple to give NU a four-point advantage, 22-18.
• Justin Roberts made a 3-pointer late in the half and the Purple Eagles led, 27-25, going into halftime.

Second Half

• The Hawks scored four straight points to open the half and took a 29-27 lead, but a jumper from Roberts tied things up, 29-29.
• Monmouth began to pull away, taking a 45-31 lead over the Purple Eagles with about 11 minutes remaining in the game.
• Two points from Cintron cut the Hawk lead to 12, 45-33.
• A trey from Hammond brought NU back within single digits of the Hawks, 50-41, with six minutes to go.
• With a little under two and a half minutes left in the second half, another triple from Roberts put Niagara within seven points of Monmouth, 54-47.
• Hammond made two foul shots to bring Niagara within five points of the lead, 54-49, with a little less than one minute to go.
• Monmouth, however, held onto the lead, defeating the Purple Eagles, 57-49.

Eagle's Eye On

• Hammond led the Purple Eagles with 11 points. He went a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line and had one block.
• Iorio had a team-high and season-high 13 rebounds. He also had six points and three assists.
• Thomasson dished out a team-high four assists.
• Roberts added 10 points for the Purple Eagles.
• Cintron had a team-high two steals. He also added seven points and four rebounds.

Up Next

• The Purple Eagles host the Fairfield Stags on Sunday, Dec. 5 at 1:00 p.m.

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