MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – The Niagara men’s basketball team used a second half run to erase another 20-point first half deficit, but was unable to hold on to a late lead while falling to the Central Michigan Chippewas, 66-64, on Sunday.
“It was a tough loss,” head coach Joe Mihalich said. “I feel like we lost, then won and then lost again.”
Niagara, which trailed 33-13 in the first half and by 12 at halftime, roared back in the second half. Trailing 43-28 with 15:35 on the clock, a pair of Antoine Mason free throws started NU’s 22-6 run over the next seven minutes. T.J. Cline s tip-in gave Niagara (2-5) its first lead of the game at 50-49 with seven minutes left in the game. A 3-pointer by Marvin Jordan put the Purple Eagles up 56-51, and a layup by Juan’ya Green matched NU’s largest lead of five points, 58-53, with 4:47 left.
After CMU (4-3) tied the game at 58-58, Mason drained a jumper in the paint to put NU back in front with 3:24 remaining. The Chippewas responded with six straight free throws to lead 64-60, while NU committed costly turnovers down the stretch. The Purple Eagles missed a couple of 3-pointers with less than 20 seconds on the clock before Juan’ya Green made a 3-pointer to cut the lead to 65-64 with two seconds remaining. CMU’s Kyle Randall made one-of-two free throws and NU was unable to get another shot off as time expired.
Mason tied a game-high with 24 points for his second straight, and third of the season, 20-point game. The only other Purple Eagle in double figures was Green with 12 points. Cline led NU in bench points with nine and had a career and game-high 11 rebounds.
“We didn’t come to play early; we were down 20 with five to go in first half, up five with the ball with four minutes to go in the game and then get nosed out. No rest for the weary though,” Mihalich added. “There are two more road games this week. We have to get better.”
Niagara steps back into MAAC play against defending champion Loyola on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.
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