LEWISBURG, PA. –Noah Thomasson and Aaron Gray reached double-digits in the scoring column, with 12 and 10 points, respectively, as the Purple and White fell to Bucknell by the final score of 68-50 Saturday afternoon in non-conference men's basketball action.
 
First Half
• With Bucknell up 8-2 in the first four minutes of action, the Purple Eagles went on a 7-0 run, highlighted by a triple from Lance Erving, to get its first lead of the game, 9-8.
• Niagara would take a three-point advantage, 15-12, at the 10:08 mark as Bryce Moore connected on one from beyond the 3-point line.
• The Purple Eagles would hold its lead for the next 3:44 of game play before Bucknell retook the lead, 18-17, with a jumper.
• The Bison quickly made it a four-point game but back-to-back 3-pointers from Gray and Thomasson gave the Purple and White a 23-21 lead with 4:43 left in the first half.
• Bucknell would end the half on a 6-0 run to take a 27-23 lead into the locker rooms.
 
Second Half
• The Bison lead would grow to 32-25 to start the second half before Braxton Bayless hit a three and a jumper in the lane to put the Purple and White down by four, 34-30, with 16:44 remaining in the half.
• Bucknell would go up by nine following a 7-2 run by the Bison to make the score 41-32.
• The first double-digit lead for either team came with 12:46 on the clock after a 3-pointer for Bucknell that made the score, 44-34.
• Niagara would get as close as seven, 44-37, following another 3-point bucket for Moore.
• From there, the Purple Eagles would be outscored 24-13 the remainder of the way, shooting 4-for-13 from the field as Bucknell who finished the game 10-for-17 from the floor cruised to an 18-point win over the Purple and White.
 
Niagara Notes
• Saturday marked the 10th meeting of all-time between Niagara and Bucknell, with the Bison tying the series 5-5 with the win.
• Thomasson, the Preseason All-MAAC Second Team selection, led NU with 12 points on 5-for-12 shooting. It was the 18th time of his career at Niagara and the first time this season that the senior reached double figures. 
• Gray reached double figures for the first time as a Purple Eagle.
• Niagara finished the game with 26 total rebounds, including a team-high six from Iorio.
• Moore finished with nine points, all of which came from 3-point land.
• Bayless snagged two of the team's five steals on the night.
• Niagara connected on a season-best eight 3-pointers from five different Purple Eagles.
• The Purple Eagles finished the contest 38.8 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from the 3-point range. 
 
Up Next
• Niagara heads to Dublin, Ireland, for the MAAC/ASun Challenge Friday, Nov. 18, against Central Arkansas and Sunday, Nov. 19, versus Stetson. Both of the Purple Eagles' games will air on ESPN+.
 
Stay connected with Niagara Men's Basketball on Twitter and Instagram. Follow Niagara Athletics all year long on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, purpleeagles.com and the Niagara Purple Eagles app