BUFFALO — Behind a second half offensive eruption, the Niagara Purple Eagles put away the Canisius Golden Griffins, 94-81, on Friday night to complete the season sweep.
For second time in the last three visits, the Purple Eagles shot the lights out of the Koessler Athletic Center in the second half. The Purple Eagles shot 78.6 percent (22-for-28) from the field and made 8 of 9 from 3-pointers, including making their first seven of the half, en route to dropping 55 second half points.
Niagara started the second half up 39-36. The Purple Eagles connected on three straight 3-pointers to take a 50-41 lead three minutes into the half. Canisius cut Niagara’s lead to 52-48 with 15:03 left, but it would be the closes the Golden Griffins would get as the Purple Eagles laid haymakers with 3-pointer, after 3-pointer. Niagara extended its lead to 66-54, including draining four 3-pointers during the stretch, with 11:46 remaining.
The Purple Eagles’ lead ballooned to the largest of the game, 80-63, on a Dominic Robb tip-in with 5:22 left. NU maintained its double-digit lead for the rest of the game as the Purple Eagles left the KAC with a season sweep for the first time in five seasons.
The first half had 10 lead changes and four ties. The Purple Eagles used an 8-0 run in a 1:50 span to take a 17-11 lead with 13:52 left in the first half. The lead changed five times over the next five minutes. NU trailed 31-25 with five minutes remaining in the half when the Purple Eagles went on a 12-3 run en route to a 39-36 halftime lead.
Matt Scott led Niagara in scoring and in rebounding. Scott finished with 18 points on 6 of 10 shooting and went 3-for-5 from 3-pointers, and with nine rebounds. Kahlil Dukes scored 16 points, including 12 in the second half, to go along with a game-high seven assists. Kevin Larkin tied a season-high with 16 points, which was set against Canisius on January 23, and grabbed a season-high eight rebounds. Marvin Prochet had 13 points on 5 of 7 shooting from the field. Chris Barton had 10 points with eight coming in the second half. Maurice Taylor Jr. had eight rebounds and seven points. Dominic Robb extended his MAAC-leading blocks total to 67 as he set the sophomore single-season record, which was held by Joe Arlauckas who had 66 during the 1984-85 season. Robb is tied with Arlauckas for second place on the single-season list and is five behind the single-season record holder Mark Henry.
The Purple Eagles shot 78.6 percent (22-for-28) from the field in the second half for their highest half percentage since shooting 78.9 percent against Canisius on February 24, 2015, which set a Koessler Athletic Center record. Niagara made 11 3-pointers in the game, including going 8 for 9 in the second half. Niagara has scored 55 second half points in consecutive games. Five Purple Eagles scored in double figures for the second time this season. Niagara’s 58.1 field goal percentage is its second highest this season.
The Purple Eagles return to the Gallagher Center to host the Iona Gaels on Sunday, February 12 at 2 p.m.
from PurpleEagles.com via IFTTT