Staff Report
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Niagara’s first-half shooting percentage almost matched the temperature outside Friday morning.
The Purple Eagles shot 71.4 percent from the field in the opening half and 57.1 percent for the game in an 82-77 win over Howard at the Glenn Wilkes Classic.
Anthony Nelson led four Purple Eagles in double figures with 18 points. He was 5-of-7 from the field and also had five assists and four rebounds.
Bilal Benn notched his third double-double in as many games as he finished with 17 points, 12 rebounds and six assists.
Niagara Falls graduate Rob Garrison added 17 points, five assists and three steals, while Demetrius Williamson chipped in with 12 points and seven boards.
Austin Cooley and Kashief Edwards each contributed seven points. Edwards had a career-high four blocks.
Niagara, which led 50-37 at the half, will play Central Florida (3-0) at 3:30 p.m. today.
Tyrone Lewis, who has been sidelined with a foot injury since the first half of the season opener against Auburn, was in uniform but did not play.
UCF 84, Auburn 74
A.J Tyler had 19 points and eight rebounds as Central Florida defeated Auburn at the Glenn Wilkes Classic on Friday night.
Taylor Young and Dave Diakite had eight first-half points apiece for the Knights (3-0), who opened the game with a 13-0 run en route to a 41-24 lead at intermission. Each finished with 12 points.
Auburn (1-2) got 22 points from Frankie Sullivan and DeWayne Reed added 15.
The Knights held Auburn scoreless until Reed hit a 3-pointer 7 minutes into the game. The Tigers pulled within 21-17 later in the first half on Sullivan’s jumper.
But UCF put together another spurt, outscoring the Tigers 15-3, including a nifty lay-up basket by Young, to go ahead 36-20.
UCF preserved the win by hitting 8 of 8 free throws during the final minute.
The Knights entered the game 0-27 all-time against SEC teams.
GAME DAY
Niagara (2-1) vs. Central Florida (3-0)
n WHEN: 3:30 p.m. today
n WHERE: Daytona Beach, Fla.
n RADIO: WWKB 1520
n ONLINE: Live video available at GlennWilkesClassic.com; live audio available at PurpleEagles.com
