Niagara's Benn now playing in Portugal

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James Neiss/staff photographer Niagara Falls, NY - Niagara University #22 Bilal Benn looks to pass around Saint Peters #22 Kabeya Kabongo during the first quarter.

April 25, 2010

By Jonah Bronstein Niagara Gazette The Niagara Gazette Sun Apr 25, 2010, 11:14 PM EDT

BOSTON —

While Tyrone Lewis awaits an invitation to participate a National Football League offseason program, his former basketball running mate at Niagara University, Bilal Benn, has begun his professional hoops career overseas.

Benn signed a contract last week to join Ovarense for its playoff run in Portugal’s top league. He made his debut Sunday, playing only the second half but notching six points and eight rebounds in a 74-71 win.

Benn, a Philadelphia native who transferred to Niagara from Villanova, was the second-leading scorer and top rebounder in two seasons with the Purple Eagles. He was a first-team all-Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference pick as a junior, and second-team pick as a senior despite being slowed by midseason knee surgery.

“An agent who wanted to sign me told me that a job had come up and he thinks I should go,” Benn wrote in an e-mail. “He said the team had been trying to get in contact with me for a week.”

Having been used mostly as an undersized power forward at Niagara, the 6-foot-4 Benn is playing guard for Ovarense. One of his former Villanova teammates, Shane Clark, plays for a rival team in the league.

“My impression is good so far,” Benn wrote. “The people are nice but the food isn’t what I’m used to. But I love the arena we play in. But hopefully we win the championship over here so I can come home with it.”

When he returns from Portugal next month, Benn will resume the process of picking an agent and, he hopes, get an NBA tryout.

“For now, I’m just gonna enjoy getting paid for something I like to do,” he wrote. “Hopefully, I’ll get to do it for a long time. But I’m happy because I get to play after school and coach (Joe) Mihalich always says we’re fortunate because there are people who would kill to be in our shoes.”

Contact reporter Jonah Bronstein at 282-2311, ext. 2258.

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