LEWISTON, N.Y. (AP)—Benson Egemonye scored 24 points, 13 during the final nine minutes as Niagara held off Canisius 75-69 Monday night in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action.
Trailing 63-61 with 5:39 remaining, Niagara (15-6, 6-3 MAAC) took command of the game with a 9-2 run capped by a conventional three-point play by Egemonye with 2:09 to play that made it 70-65.
Canisius (7-13, 2-8 MAAC) overcame a 14-point second half deficit behind a 26-10 run. The Golden Griffin comeback was undone by 13 second half turnovers.
Egemonye missed only one field goal in the second half, finishing 8-11 from the field and 8-9 from the free throw line.
Bilal Benn added 14 points for the Purple Eagles and Tyrone Lewis had 11.
Frank Turner led Canisius with 22 points, recording his fourth-straight 20-point game.
Julius Coles added 17, scoring 14 in the second half.
Niagara has won 11 of the last 12 meetings between the cross-town rivals.
