Treating it like a dress rehearsal for the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championship tournament in March, the Niagara Purple Eagles sought to win three games in three days at the Glen Wilkes Classic in Daytona Beach, Fla.
They got about 90 percent of the way toward their goal before fading down the stretch in Sunday’s loss to Austin Peay.
After beating Howard on Friday and Central Florida on Saturday, the Purple Eagles (3-2) went up 21-4 in the early going on Sunday, but allowed the Governors to come back and take the lead with 6:18 remaining and eventually lost 69-67.
“It was two different games, the first half and the second half,” coach Joe Mihalich said by phone afterward.
“The loss stings, but I’m really proud of this team. We’re down a first-team all-conference player (Tyrone Lewis), and but not for a couple of possessions, we could be 5-0.”
Lewis, last year’s leading scorer and defensive point man, hasn’t played since the first half of Niagara’s season opening loss at Auburn because of an unspecified foot injury. Mihalich has listed him as day-to-day. Niagara’s next game is Wednesday at Mount St. Mary.
Four Purple Eagles scored in double figures Sunday, led by Anthony Nelson who had 15 points. Bilal Benn and Demetrius Williamson both scored a dozen, and Rob Garrison had 11 points. Kashief Edwards had eight points and blocked four shots for the third game in a row. Austin Cooley had seven points.
There were six lead changes in the final three minutes. Benn hit two free throws to tie the game at 65 with 1:44 left. After an offensive foul on Austin Peay, Garrison missed a contested layup, and the Governors went ahead 67-65 on an Anthony Campbell jump shot with 35 seconds left.
Benn’s fadeaway 18-footer tied the game, but Marcel Williams scored the winner with 3.5 seconds left. Nelson’s desperation 3-pointer at the buzzer fell short.
Niagara shot 52 percent from the floor and made eight 3-pointers in the first half, then shot 25 percent with three treys in the second half.
Niagara U.
MEN'S BASKETBALL: Niagara fades late in loss to Austin Peay
- Niagara U.
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Niagara shuts out Canisius
Paul Zanette had a goal and assist while goaltender Chris Noonan made 29 saves to propel the Niagara University men’s hockey team to a critical 3-0 victory over Canisius at the Buffalo State College Sports Complex.
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Situation getting worse for Niagara basketball team
Niagara sank into last place in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference with a 51-49 loss at Manhattan, which came into the game on a 15-game losing streak Monday. And that was hardly the most ominous news to come out of the lost weekend, which also included Saturday’s setback at Saint Peter’s.
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Niagara falls hard in big game
With Calvin Murphy being honored at halftime and ESPNU showing the game nationwide, the Purple Eagles missed more than twice as many shots as they made and lost 82-65 to visiting Metro Atlantic Athletic foe Rider before a crowd of 1,275.
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A legend holds court at NU
Calvin Murphy adds to his legend in return
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Calvin Murphy excited to come back to Niagara
Murphy is passionate about showing his loyalty to Niagara because the university has done the same for him over the years.
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Niagara loses by 45 at Drexel
The Niagara men’s basketball team suffered through its most lopsided loss in over a decade on its worst offensive night in almost a century.
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Niagara making impression in Atlantic Hockey
As second semester approaches, Purple Eagles have rebounded after down year
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Purple Eagles encouraged to follow the leader
Having lost seven of eight games for just the second time in his 12 years at Niagara, coach Joe Mihalich is concerned that his roster of mostly freshmen and sophomores is not responding to the leadership being provided by his lone senior.
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Dobrich pursues his passion coaching the Purple Eagles
Luke Dobrich, 32, is in his eighth season as a men’s basketball assistant coach at Niagara, and his first as the senior member of head coach Joe Mihalich’s staff.
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Nelson’s basket lifts NU past Bowling Green
Anthony Nelson’s basket with just a second left on the shot clock proved the game’s winning play as the Purple Eagles evened their record at 2-2 with a 65-61 victory over Bowling Green on Friday.
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