NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, NY – The Purple Eagles erased a 17-point deficit to earn a 79-73 win over visiting Quinnipiac in MAAC men's basketball action from the Gallagher Center Friday night.
 
Senior Noah Thomasson scored 21 points, grabbed nine rebounds and dished out eight assists to lead Niagara. Harlan Obioha recoded a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds, Braxton Bayless scored a career-high 18 points on 5-for-7 shooting and an 8-for-10 mark from the line, and Joe Kasperzyk contributed 11 points off the bench.
 
Game Recap
First Half
• After Niagara scored the first basket of the contest, the Bobcats used the next 10:25 of game time outscore NU 12-11 and take a 22-13 lead over the Purple Eagles.
• With 1:23 left in the in the half Quinnipiac was up 33-19, before Aaron Gray scored the final six points for NU in the half to put the Purple Eagles down ten, 35-25.
 
Second Half
• With 14:24 on the clock in the second half, the Bobcats took their largest lead of the contest 45-28.
• Over the next 12:55 of the half, the Purple Eagles would outscore Quinnipiac 29-12 with Thomasson, Obioha and Joe Kasperzyk each scoring seven points to lead the Purple and White as they tied the game at 57-57.
• Braxton Bayless and Obioha each recorded tough baskets in the lane to help Niagara erase its deficit.
• Thomasson would connect on a 3-pointer to give Niagara its first lead since the 17:43 of the first half.
• The Bobcats would tie the game at 61-61 with ten seconds remaining.
• Sam Iorio would put up the game-winning 3-point attempt but the ball would rattle out and the game would go to overtime.
 
Overtime
• Obioha would go 2-for-2 from the line to give Niagara a two-point advantage to start the extra frame.
• The Purple Eagles would go up by four, 67-63, following a layup from Thomasson and a slam from Obioha.
• Thomasson would connect on another clutch 3-pointer with 1:46 to go in the extra frame to put NU up by seven, its largest lead of the game, 70-63.
• Niagara would maintain its lead over the next two minutes and take a 77-70 lead into the final 20 seconds of play.
• After a 3-pointer from Quinnipiac, Bayless would hit on two at the line to give the game its 79-73 final.
 
Niagara Notes
• Niagara improves to 11-13 all-time against Quinnipiac, completing the season sweep of the Bobcats for the first time in since 2017-18.
• Obioha recorded a double-double, the programs first since Marcus Hammond scored 18 and grabbed 11 boards vs. Rider on Feb. 25, 2022.
• Thomasson's nine rebounds is a career-high for the senior, while his eight assists was one shy of his career-high.
• Bayless set a career-high with 18 points, surpassing his previous career-best outing of 14 set in the season opener at Maryland.
• David Mitchell snagged seven boards, a season-high for the Ivy League transfer.
• The overtime win is Niagara's second win in an extra frame this season with the last one coming at Iona on Jan. 6.
• Niagara's five game win streak is its longest since 2017-18.
• Niagara out-rebounded Quinnipiac 45-41, scored 16 points off fast break chances and 25 off the bench.
 
Up Next
• Niagara will take on Iona on Sunday, Feb. 12 at 1 p.m. inside the Gallagher Center. Todd Callen and Sue Petronsky will have the call on ESPN+.
 
For tickets, visit purpleeagles.com/tickets or call the Niagara Ticket Office at (716) 286-8499. 
 
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