LEWISTON, N.Y. (AP) — Niagara rose to the challenge of playing the nation’s highest-scoring team with its highest-scoring half of the season, getting 61 second-half points to defeat Northwestern State 92-76 Saturday in a nonconference game.
The Purple Eagles (17-11) shot 66.7 percent (20 of 30) in the second half, including 8 of 10 from 3-point range, to snap a nine-game winning streak by the Demons (19-7).
Antoine Mason, who had missed the last four games with a sprained ankle, returned for Niagara with 20 points, and Juan’ya Green also scored 20.
Mason scored 11 points and Marvin Jordan 10 when the Purple Eagles, of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, raced to an 84-63 lead by outscoring Northwestern State 40-20 in a span of just over 10 minutes midway through the second half.
Gary Roberson scored 20 points to pace Northwestern State, of the Southland Conference, which had been averaging 84 points per game.
