Courtesy of PurpleEagles.com
NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – Dominic Robb led Niagara with a season-high 18 points and tied a career-high with four blocks to help power the Purple Eagles to a 65-61 win over the Norfolk State Spartans on Saturday.
Niagara played its first home game since November 23, returning back to the Gallagher Center after a four-game road trip.
Three blocks by Dominic Robb in the first five minutes set the tone defensively for the Purple Eagles. Robb and Matt Scott combined to score seven points as the Purple Eagles led 15-8 after eight minutes. The Spartans used a 12-4 run to take their first lead of the game, 20-19, with 6:54 left in the half. The rest of the half had three ties and five lead changes with the score deadlock at 30-30 at the break.
The Purple Eagles regained the lead for good, 36-34, on a Robb layup at 16:56 on the clock. Niagara, which made clutch plays at both ends of the floor, eventually had the game’s largest lead, 58-49, with 4:37 remaining.
The Purple Eagles kept their composure in the final minutes when Norfolk State went on a 12-4 run to decrease Niagara’s lead to 62-61 with 32 seconds left. After James Towns made one of two free throws, the Purple Eagles came up with the stop of the game on the Spartans’ next possession when Kahlil Dukes intercepted a pass with four seconds remaining. Dukes iced the game at the free-throw line, draining a pair to improve to 29-for-30 at the line this season.
Video courtesy of Niagara Athletics.
Eagle’s Eye On…
Three Purple Eagles scored in double figures with two who were one-point shy.
Dominic Robb registered a season-high 18 points to go along with six rebounds and four blocks.
Khalil Dukes scored 11 points, extending his streak of scoring double-figures in every game this season.
Chris Barton recorded 10 points, four rebounds and an assist in 19 minutes of play.
Leading scorer Matt Scott had nine points and seven rebounds, while teammate Marvin Prochet had nine points and a season-high nine boards.
Inside the Numbers
The Purple Eagles are 3-0 when holding opponents under 40 percent from the field.
Robb’s career-high nine field goals are a team-high this season.
NU had a 13-2 advantage in points off turnovers.
Up Next
The Niagara Purple Eagles head back on the road to play the Youngstown State Penguins on Wednesday, Dec. 14 at 7 p.m.
Leave a Reply