By Jonah Bronstein
LEWISTON — The Niagara University men’s basketball team has brought its troubles home.
So far in January, the Purple Eagles had played a “home game” at HSBC Arena, won once at a half-full Gallagher Center with almost no student fans, and then went on the road for four games, losing three of those games.
Things were supposed to be different Friday. School was back in session on Monteagle Ridge. There were no winter weather advisories. All the key players were healthy.
Or so we thought. Friday’s contest with visiting Saint Peter’s had an ominous feeling from the opening tip, with Purple Eagles’ leading scorer Tyrone Lewis standing on the sideline, in uniform but unable to play because he could barely move his left shoulder, the result of a recent collision in practice.
Without Lewis, who is being listed as day-to-day, Niagara’s offense bogged down, and with coach Joe Mihalich scrambling to find an inside presence on his team, Saint Peter’s scored 50 points on dunks, layups and free throws in a 74-65 win.
The Purple Eagles are now 4-5 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play, trailing the Peacocks (12-8, 6-3) and four other teams (Siena, Fairfield, Iona and Canisius) in the standings.
Of more concern to Niagara (10-10 overall), is that an offense that had averaged more than 79 points in its seven games prior to the new year is scoring less than 65 points per game since. Take out the two overtimes in Niagara’s Jan. 11 loss at Saint Peter’s, and the Purple Eagles high-flying, guard-oriented group is averaging about 61 points over its last seven games.
“We’re having trouble scoring the basketball,” Mihalich said after his team shot 33 percent from the floor Friday.
“It’s very frustrating because I think everybody on our team and the coaching staff worked really hard to prepare for this game,” said Bilal Benn, who had 15 points and nine rebounds. “They tell us what to do and we’re still not executing.”
For the second straight game, Mihalich went with a small lineup to start the game, starting 6-foot-6 swingman Demetrius Williamson alongside four guards. Austin Cooley took Lewis’ spot, and wasn’t productive in his first career start, scoring six points on 1 of 8 shooting.
“Sometimes, you have to put your five best players out there, if they are small or big,” Mihalich said. “It does create matchup problems for the other team. Almost immediately, the other team goes small too, and that opens up an advantage for us.”
Williamson scored a career-high 23 points to lead Niagara and also had nine rebounds.
Saint Peter’s best post player, the 6-foot-7 Ryan Bacon, scored 12 of his 15 points on putbacks. He finished with 16 rebounds, half coming on the offensive end.
Niagara led 30-27 at the half and led four points early in the second half before Saint Peter’s went on a 13-1 run to lead 49-41 on a Nick Leon 3-pointer with 11:46 to play. Leon had 19 points for Saint Peter’s.
The Peacocks built their lead into double digits in the final five minutes, and the Purple Eagles’ frustrations began to bubble over. Mihalich got a technical foul with 2:57 for barking at an official. Benn was whistled for an intentional foul a minute later.
Niagara plays Rider, another MAAC team failing to meet high expectations this season, at 4 p.m. Sunday in the Gallagher Center.
Contact reporter Jonah Bronstein at 282-2311, ext. 2258.
