NIAGARA UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
LARAMIE, W.Y. — Marvin Prochet’s third straight double-double ignited the Purple Eagles to a 72-67 victory against the Wyoming Cowboys on Friday night.
Game Summary
Playing their third game in five days, the Purple Eagles controlled the game, which was played in the highest altitude – 7,220 feet above sea level – in the nation, on their way to their best start since the 2009-10 season.
Once again, the Purple Eagles got off to a fast start to the game. Marvin Prochet opened the scoring 19 seconds into the contest with a 3-pointer and Dominic Robb followed with a jumper for a 5-0 lead. A Greg King layup at 13:31 on the clock gave Niagara its largest lead of the half, 16-7. Wyoming went on a 12-2 run to for its first lead of the game. The Purple Eagles responded with a 9-0 spurt with Chris Barton providing seven points during the run for a 27-19 lead. Prochet scored Niagara’s last six points as the Purple Eagles headed into halftime with a 33-25 advantage.
The Cowboys started the second half on an 11-3 run to tie the game at 36-36. On Niagara’s next possession, Prochet drained a 3-pointer – his career high fifth in the game. The Cowboys eventually regained the lead at 46-45, but a 3-pointer by freshman Raheem Solomon lifted Niagara back in front to spark a 12-3 run, which was capped by a Robb 3-pointer. However, the Cowboys didn’t go away quietly as they went on a 10-2 run to tie the game at 59-59 with four minutes remaining.
The Purple Eagles made several key baskets in the final minutes. With the game tied at 61-61, Barton connected on a 3-pointer and with 57 seconds left in the game Prochet hit a jumper with the shot clock expiring to give Niagara a 66-63 lead. James Towns followed by making four pressure free throws and the Cowboys’ Hunter Maldonado missed a game-tying 3-pointer with six seconds left. Dominic Robb sealed the game at the line with a pair of free throws.
Eagle’s Eye On…
- Marvin Prochet notched his 12th career double-double with a career-high 23 points and a season-high 12 rebounds, which were both team highs.
- Dominic Robb netted 13 points, including going 4-for-4 at the free-throw line and 1-for-1 for the 3-point line. Robb had a game-high three blocks to add to his nation-leading total of 15.
- Chris Barton scored 12 points to be in double figures for the second straight game and grabbed a season-high five rebounds.
- Raheem Solomon scored a career-high 12 points, including a team-high 10 points in the second half.
Inside The Numbers
- Marvin Prochet is the first Purple Eagle to start the season with three straight double-doubles since Bilal Benn (2009-10).
- Dominic Robb had his third 3-block game of the season and 24th of his career. Robb has moved into fourth on the career blocks list with 172.
- The Purple Eagles picked up their first-ever win against a Mountain West Conference opponent in their fifth attempt, including their first win in two meetings versus Wyoming.
- Niagara outscored Wyoming’s bench, 16-7, and had a 26-24 points in the paint advantage including outscoring the Cowboys, 16-4, in the first half.
- Niagara led for 36:22 minutes.
Up Next
- The Purple Eagles return to the Gallagher Center to host the campus regional portion of the Fort Myers Tip-Off Classic on November 23-24. Niagara plays Grambling State on Friday, Nov. 23 at 4 p.m., followed by St. Francis (NY) vs. IUPUI. The Purple Eagles will on Saturday Nov. 7 p.m. versus either St. Francis/IUPUI.
- The game will air on the Niagara Sports Network via LCTV, AM 1400 WWWS and www.PurpleEagles.com/Watch.
- For ticket information, contact the Niagara Athletic Ticket Office at 716-286 TIXX, tickets@Niagara.edu or www.PurpleEagles.com/Tickets.
