NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, NY – The Purple Eagles improved to 11-9 overall and 6-5 in conference play as tthey held on for the 68-62 win over Manhattan (6-13, 4-6 MAAC) Friday night in the Gallagher Center. Senior Noah Thomasson finished with 19 points, six rebounds, and four assists, followed by Joe Kasperzyk who tallied 10 points, going 4-for-6 from the line off the bench.
 
Niagara finished the game shooting 56.8 percent from the field, 46.7 percent from 3-point territory, and 64.7 percent from the line.
 
Game Recap
First Half
• After the Jaspers took a 2-0 lead, Thomasson connected on a 3-pointer to get the Purple and White on the board and Sam Iorio and Braxton Bayless buckets to put the Purple Ealges on top 7-2 by the first media timeout.
• By the 10:50 mark of the first half, the Niagara lead to 14, 24-10, when Kasperzyk connected on back-to-back 3-pointers.
• The Purple Eagles would maintain its double-digit lead until the 3:40 mark when Manhattan made it a 30-21 contest.
• After the Jaspers pulled within four, 30-26, Niagara responded with two-point baskets, including a 3-pointer from Thomasson to close out the half and give NU an eight-point advantage at the break.
 
Second Half
• The Purple Eagles maintained at least a five-point margin for the first five minutes of the half before a Jasper basket off a Niagara turnover made it a 41-38 contest.
• Manhattan would score on an alleyoop to pull within one, 41-40 ahead of the under-14 media timeout.
• Niagara would go back up by five with 13:01 remaining in the contest 45-40 after Thomasson scored on a fastbreak.
• Two minutes later the game was tied for the first time at 45-45.
• Niagara would then explode for an 11-3 run over the next seven minutes of action, taking a 60-52 lead over the Jaspers.
• A late 7-0 spurt by the Jaspers made it a one-point Niagara lead, 63-62, with 47 seconds remaining.
• Thomasson would find Erving in the corner with 18 seconds remaining to put NU up by four, 65-61.
• Thomasson would sink two at the line to secure the win for Niagara.
 
Niagara Notes
• Niagara earned a split of the season series with the Jaspers and are now 37-59 all-time against Manhattan.
• The Purple Eagles improved to 6-2 at home and 9-4 when leading at the break.
• Niagara finished +7 on the glass, 29-22, with Iorio leading the way with eight and Thomasson and Mitchell grabbing six apiece.
• The Purple Eagle bench scored 19, highlighted by Kasperzyk's 10 points.
• Thomasson recorded his 18th game this season with double-digit points.
• Aaron Gray led the team with five assists, a career-high for the sophomore.
 
Up Next
• Niagara renews the Battle of the Bridge next Friday, Feb. 3 at 7 p.m. inside the Gallagher Center. Tickets for the game can be purchased via purpleeagles.com/tickets or by calling (716) 286-8499.
 
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