EASTON, Pa. — Niagara men's basketball fell in its second game of The Lafayette Classic to the host Leopards by the final score of 59-47 Saturday evening.
 
How it Happened
The Leopards (4-4) had five players score seven or more points, led by Justin Vander Baan's 11. Alex Chaikin and Mark Butler added nine points each for Lafayette, which shot just 31.7 percent from the field but held Niagara to an even colder 25.4 percent.
 
Olumide Adelodun led Niagara (2-5) with 10 points and 15 rebounds. Zion Russell came off the bench to score 11 points for the Purple Eagles, who struggled from 3-point range, making just 3 of 26 attempts (11.5 percent).
 
Lafayette gradually built its lead in the second half, pushing the advantage to as many as 14 points when Vander Baan's layup made it 41-27 with 10:10 remaining. Niagara pulled within five, 52-47, with 2:28 to go but failed to get any closer.
 
The teams combined to shoot just 34-of-119 from the field in a game that featured long scoring droughts from both sides. Lafayette's bench outscored Niagara's 26-15, helping the Leopards overcome their own offensive struggles.
 
Jhaylon Martinez added eight points and 14 rebounds for Niagara.
 
Niagara Notes
• Saturday marked the first meeting since 1977 with Niagara moving to 2-4 all-time against Lafayette.
• Saturday marked the first time since Nov. 7, 2022 that Niagara was held under 50 points.
• The Purple Eagles set a season-high with 47 rebounds.
• Adelodun and Martinez are the first duo of Purple Eagles to grab 10 or more rebounds since Jan. 19, 2024 at Rider.
• Adelodun is the first Purple Eagle since Jan. 5, 2024 to grab 15 rebounds in a contest. The Alberta native is also the first to record a double-double for NU since Feb. 16, 2024.
• Martinez's 14 rebounds are a career-high for the graduate student.
 
Up Next
Niagara closes out The Lafayette Classic with a noon tip-off against LIU on Sunday, Dec. 1.