GAME 17
SCORE	Niagara Purple Eagles 64, Siena Saints 62
RECORDS	Niagara (8-9, 7-8 MAAC) | Siena (8-3, 8-3 MAAC)
LEADING SCORERS	Niagara – Kobi Nwandu (16) | Siena – Jordan King (13)
LOCATION	Gallagher Center

NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – Kobi Nwandu and Marcus Hammond combined for 31 points as the Purple Eagles clipped the Siena Saints in the final minute, 64-62, in the first leg of their two-game series on Saturday.  

Game Summary
The Purple Eagles, who trailed for 68 percent of the game, made the winning plays down the stretch to pull out the win.

Kobi Nwandu's spinning layup in the paint with 25 seconds remaining was the go-ahead basket for the Purple Eagles. Trailing 60-59, Nwandu had to maneuver past his defender to spin the ball off the backboard which went in.

Siena's Jordan King missed a 3-pointer with seven seconds left on the next possession. After Raheem Solomon made two free throws for a 63-60 lead, Niagara sent Jalen Pickett to the free-throw line where he made two free throws. Solomon, then, returned to the charity stripe with two seconds remaining where he made 1 of 2 free throws, but the Saints were unable to get off a shot before time expired.

A Justin Roberts 3-pointer one minute into the game gave Niagara a 3-2 lead, which was the Purple Eagles' only lead of the half. Siena followed with six straight points and eventually had its largest lead of the game at 14-7. NU cut the lead to one point twice, including scoring the last four points of the half to trail 31-30 at the break.

The Saints started the second half scoring four straight points before the Purple Eagles answered with a 12-2 run in two minutes for a 42-37 lead. Niagara drained 3-pointers on three straight possessions as part of the run.

Siena responded with a 10-1 run for a 47-43 lead with 10 minutes remaining. Not to be outdone, NU answered with a 10-2 run in the next three minutes. Siena regained the lead thanks to an 8-2 spurt, but a Nwandu layup tied the contest at 57-57 heading into the last two minutes. The lead changed three times on the ensuing possessions before Nwandu's go-ahead layup.

Eagle's Eye On…

• Kobi Nwandu led Niagara in scoring for the eighth time this season, including the last three games. He finished with 16 points on 6 of 11 shooting and dished out a season-high five assists to lead the team.
• Marcus Hammond scored 15 points, including 11 in the second half which led both teams.

Inside The Numbers

• Niagara has won three of the last four meetings at home, including two straight.
• Greg Kuakumensah was a game-best plus-6.
• There were 11 lead changes and seven ties.
• Niagara won its first game when trailing at the 10-minute mark. 

Up Next

• The Purple Eagles will look to sweep the series for the first time in eight seasons on Sunday at Noon.
• 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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