NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, NY – Niagara (2-6) coasted to a 113-64 win over Buffalo State (0-8) Sunday afternoon as six Purple Eagles recorded double-digit points, led by a career-high 20 points from Dre Bullock.
Aime Rutayisire and Ahmad Henderson added 15 points, followed by Harlan Obioha with 14, Yaw Obeng-Mensah with 12, and Braxton Bayless with 10 points. Rutayisire and Obioha led NU with eight rebounds as Niagara grabbed 37 as a team. Bayless led the Purple and White with five assists as Niagara tallied 23 as a team. As a team, Niagara shot 64.6 percent from the field, 46.7 percent from the perimeter, and 84.6 from the line.
Nigel Burch’s 20 points led Buff State as the Bengals shot 35.1 percent from the field, including 41.2 percent from beyond the arc. Buff State finished the game 17-for-23 at the line.
How it Happened
Niagara would take a 46-39 lead into the locker rooms after going 19-for-35 from the field in the first half, including 1-for-7 from 3-point land.
The Purple Eagles would heat up in the second half, going on a 12-6 run to start the period, making all three of their field goal attempts and going a perfect 6-for-6 from the line to take a 58-45 lead.
From the 16:22 mark to the 10:58 mark of the frame, Niagara went on a 22-0 run to open up a 33-point margin, 80-47. The Purple and White went 9-for-9 from the field during the run and 4-for-6 at the charity stripe. A total of six Purple Eagles scored during the run, including six from Bullock.
Over the next six minutes of action, Niagara would use a 19-5 run to take a 99-55 lead over the Bengals with five minutes remaining on the clock. Bullock again led the way for NU, scoring eight, and Rutayisire added six.
Jalen Brown put Niagara over the century mark with a 3-pointer from the far corner, making it 102-57.
The Purple Eagles would coast to the 113-64 win, outscoring Buff State 11-7 over the final 3:20 of game time.
Niagara Notes
• Niagara improves to 41-5 all-time against Buffalo State.
• The Purple Eagles also set season-highs in field goals made (42) and rebounds (37) while matching their season-high with 22 made free throws.
• Niagara recorded 23 assists for the first time since Nov. 23, 2022, against D’Youville.
• Sunday marked the first time five or more Purple Eagles recorded double-digit points since Dec. 12, 2021, against Buffalo State.
• Niagara shot over 60.0 percent from the field for the second time this season.
• Rutayisire set career-highs in points with 15, rebounds with eight, assists with three, and minutes with 23.
• Obioha’s two blocks is a season-high for the sophomore 7-footer.
• Bullock 20 points is a career-high for the junior transfer, surpassing his previous career-best of 12 set last season as a member of LA Tech against UTEP.
• Bullock was a perfect 7-for-7 from the field, becoming the first Purple Eagle to shoot 100.0 percent since Jordan Cintron went 8-for-8 against Monmouth on Jan. 30, 2021.
• Brown’s 3-pointer late in the second half was the first collegiate basket for the walk-on sophomore guard.
• Henderson scored double-digit points for the seventh time this season and fifth-straight game.
• Malik Edwards recorded a season-high seven points, going 3-for-5 from the field.
Up Next
Niagara will round out its five-game homestand with a 1:00 p.m. non-conference tilt against NJIT on Saturday, Dec. 16.
Stay connected with Niagara Men’sMen’s BMen’sballBMen’sball on Twitter and Instagram. Follow Niagara Athletics all year long on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, purpleeagles.com, and the Niagara Purple Eagles app.
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