DUBLIN, IRELAND – The Purple Eagles (1-2, 0-0 MAAC) held Central Arkansas (2-2, 0-0 ASun) to 35.9 percent from the field, while shooting 54.7 percent from the floor themselves en route to a 73-64 win at the National Basketball Arena on the first day of the MAAC/ASun Challenge. Senior Noah Thomasson dropped a career-high 29 points on 12-for-18 shooting to lead the Purple and White to its first victory of the season.
 
Game Recap
First Half
• Central Arkansas took the early 2-0 leading, making a basket on the opeining possession of the contest, but moments later Braxton Bayless would get to the line to tie the game at two with a pair of free throws.
• From there, Central Arkansas would lead twice more, 4-2, and 5-4, before Niagara took the lead with back-to-back jumpers from Noah Thomasson, giving NU an 8-5 lead.
• The Purple Eagles would go on a 6-2 run over the next two minutes to go up by seven, 14-7, over the Bears. Bayless, Thomasson and Bryce Moore each recorded a bucket during the run.
• Harlan Obioha would score in the paint to give NU a 16-7 lead with 11:08 to go in the frame.
• After Central Arkansas pulled back within four, 18-14, Niagara would score back-to-back baskets to go back up by eight, 22-14.
• With 4:34 left in the first half, NU would go up by nine, 24-15, on a jumper in the paint by Thomasson, for its largest lead of the half.
• After the Bears chipped away at the lead, Niagara would again go up by nine with 15 seconds remaining in the half, before a Central Arkansas basket with three seconds on the clock made it a 33-26 game at the break.
 
Second Half
• Niagara would maintain at least a five-point lead for the first five-plus minutes of the second half. It wasn't until the 14:45 mark that the Bears got back within four, 41-37.
• The Purple Eagles would respond quickly to go up by nine following a jumper from Thomasson and a corner 3-point basket from Lance Erving.
• The Niagara lead would reach double-digits at the 12:16 mark following a fastbreak bucket by Bayless that ended up being a 3-point play after he made his free throw and gave NU a 48-37 advantage and its largest lead of the night.
• The Niagara defense would continue to make stops down the stretch as Central Arkansas brought it within less than five once, 57-53, with just over six minutes remaining.
• From there the Purple Eagles would quickly get the lead back up to eight points with baskets from David Mitchell and Thomasson, before outscoring the Bears 12-11 over the last five minutes to secure the nine-point win, 73-64.
 
Niagara Notes
• The Purple Eagles earn the first win in their all-time series with Central Arkansas.
• As a team, Niagara set season-highs in points (73), field goals made (29), free throws made (13), rebounds (35), and steals (8).
• The Purple and White led for 36 minutes of game and did not relinquish the lead after taking a 5-4 advantage early on.
• Thomasson's 29 points surpasses the Houston, Texas, natives previous career-high of 27 points set at the end of last season against Marist.
• Bayless reached double-digit scoring numbers for the second time this season. The transfer was also two rebounds shy of a double-double, grabbing a team-high eight boards. He also led NU with five assists.
• Sam Iorio finished the game with three blocks, while Erving led the squad with three steals and two made 3-pointers.
• Niagara last held a team to 35 percent or worse from the field on Jan. 30, 2022 at Monmouth when they held the Hawks to 30.0 percent.
 
Up Next
• The Purple Eagles are back in action Saturday afternoon in Ireland for their second and final game of the MAAC/ASun Challenge at 5 p.m. GMT (12 p.m. EST) against Stetson on ESPN+. Fans can also listen to Todd Callen on the Niagara Sports Network (Audio Only) or 1700 AM/107.3 FM locally.

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