NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, NY – Propelled by a strong shooting performance in the second half, the Purple and White defeated Fairfield 76-68 in Friday night MAAC basketball action inside the Gallagher Center.
 
Niagara's (15-12, 10-8 MAAC) was led by Noah Thomasson game-high 25 points, followed by 19 points on 7-of-12 shooting from Braxton Bayless and Joe Kasperzyk led the NU reserves with 11 points. As a team, Niagara shot a season-high 57.7 percent from the field and 82.4 percent from the line to earn the win.
 
Game Recap
First Half
• Fairfield struck first, taking a 5-0 lead over Niagara in the first 2:41 of play, leading to a 5-4 lead for the Stags at the first media timeout of the contest.
• An 11-4 run by the Stags led to a 16-8 lead for the visitors at the 12:05 mark of first half.
• Seven minutes later, the Purple and White would pull within four, 22-18, following a quick 4-0 run.
• The Fairfield lead would go back to seven points, 31-24, before Niagara sparked an 8-2 run led by Thomasson and Bayless who helped NU get back to even since the opening tip.
• Fairfield hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with less than 10-seconds to go in the half to take a three-point advantage into the break.
 
Second Half
• Niagara took control in the start of the second half, getting its first lead of the contest, 39-38, on a driving layup from Bayless.
• Moments later Niagara had seven-point advantage following a 12-2 spurt led once again by Bayless and Thomasson.
• The Purple Eagles lead would swell to eight points, 56-48, following a jumper from Joe Kasperzyk with 6:58 on the clock.
• The Stags would trim the NU advantage to one point, 61-60, before Aaron Gray connected on a 3-point basket from the wing to put Niagara back up by four.
• From there, Niagara's lead would grow to 11 points, 76-65 with 34 seconds remaining in the contest.
• Despite a late 3-pointer from Fairfield, the Purple Eagles would hold on for a 76-68 victory.
 
Niagara Notes
• Niagara's 10th league win of the season gives the program its first .500 or better record in MAAC play since 2017-18.
• The Purple Eagles improved to 47-37 all-time vs. Fairfield, earning the season sweep of the Stags for the first time since 2020-21.
• Thomasson eclipsed 20 points for the 14th time this season and 10th time in league play.
• Bayless finished with a season-high in 19 points, surpassing his previous mark of 18 set on Feb. 10 against Quinnipiac.
• Niagara's 54 points in the paint was season-high for the Purple and White.
• The Purple and White also shot 68.0 percent in the second half – a season best for NU.
• Niagara won the battle on the boards, 25-23.
 
Up Next
• The Purple Eagles will celebrate Senior Day on Sunday, Feb. 26 when it takes on Saint Peter's at 1 p.m.
 
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