Niagara University, N.Y. — Two buzzer beaters from Reggie Prudhomme gave men's basketball a 78-76 victory over Quinnipiac Friday night at the Gallagher Center.
The Purple Eagles are now 8-21, 5-14 MAAC, while the Bobcats fell to 18-12, 11-8 MAAC.
Niagara gained an early advantage with Will Shortt getting inside for a layup to open the scoring before Quinnipiac hit a 3-pointer to push the Bobcats ahead 6-2.
A pair of threes from Drew Larson and Vice Zanki pushed the Purple Eagles back to the lead. A 9-4 run over the next three minutes with layups from Larson, Shortt and Brian Griffith pushed Niagara's lead to 18-12.
Quinnipiac stormed back with a 10-0 run of their own to gain a 22-18 advantage with 4:54 remaining in the half.
A three from Gael Dalmau and back-to-back jumpers from Zanki brought Niagara back within one at 28-27.
The teams traded baskets in the final minutes with Shortt recording four points for the Purple Eagles to make it a 32-31 Bobcats lead.
Quinnipiac opened the second half on a 9-5 run. Josiah Sabino got fouled on a three and converted on all three free throws to cut it to a 41-39 ballgame.
A three pointer from Reggie Prudhomme gave Niagara the lead at 13:58. The teams traded baskets until the Bobcats converted on back-to-back buckets to take a 54-49 lead.
A 5-0 run from Niagara with 5:21 left gave the Purple Eagles a 58-57 advantage. Quinnipiac responded with a 7-2 run to make it 65-59 with 3:37 remaining.
After two scoreless minutes Prudhomme connected on a three from Walters and Shortt and Zanki recorded back-to-back buckets to knot the game at 66.
Quinnipiac took the lead with 25 seconds remaining, but a buzzer beater jumper from Prudhomme tied the game up once again and forced overtime.
Prudhomme took over overtime scoring six of Niagara's 10 points including another buzzer beater shot to give the Purple Eagles a 78-76 victory.
Game Notes
Niagara is now 14-15 all-time against Quinnipiac
Shortt recorded a career-high 22 points
Zanki tied a career-high with 19 points
Dalmau set a career-high with six points
The Purple Eagles outrebounded the Bobcats 37-34
Up Next
Niagara closes out the regular season Sunday March 1 against Merrimack with tip-off at 2:00 PM inside the Gallagher Center.
