Niagara Men’s Basketball Ends Losing Streak with Dominant Victory Over Houghton
Table of Contents
Niagara University men’s basketball team decisively ended an eight-game losing streak Saturday, defeating Houghton 81-58 at the Gallagher Center. The victory improves Niagara’s record to 3-9, while Houghton falls to 3-6.
Purple Eagles Surge to Early Lead
The Niagara Purple Eagles started the contest with an impressive 14-0 run, fueled by five points from Justin Hawkins and four from Landon Williams. Houghton struggled to respond, finally scoring at the 15:06 mark of the first half. Niagara quickly extended their advantage with an 8-2 run, led by four points from Vice Zanki, pushing the score to 32-8.
Following a media timeout, the Purple Eagles continued their offensive onslaught, going on a 12-4 run with six different players contributing to the scoring. Despite a brief 7-0 run by Houghton that narrowed the gap to 17, a three-pointer from Brian Griffith restored Niagara’s 20-point lead. Tshibagu Tshibangu punctuated the first half with two powerful dunks, giving Niagara a commanding 41-20 lead at halftime.
Second Half Sees Continued Niagara Control
Houghton began the second half with a 9-3 run, prompting a timeout from Niagara. However, the Purple Eagles maintained a consistent 20-point lead through much of the second half, despite a 7-0 run from the Highlanders. Snake and Justin Page contributed back-to-back buckets for Houghton, but Niagara responded with an 11-6 run, spearheaded by four points from Hawkins, forcing Houghton to call another timeout.
The Purple Eagles closed out the game on a 6-4 run, with AJ McBride securing his first basket of the game to seal the 81-58 victory.
Key Game Notes & Looking Ahead
Several key statistics highlighted Niagara’s dominant performance. According to team records, Niagara is now 2-0 all-time against Houghton. This win marked the end of a challenging eight-game losing streak for the Purple Eagles. Notably, five Niagara players scored in double figures for the first time this season. Justin Hawkins led all scorers with 16 points.
Niagara will enjoy a week off before returning to conference play on January 2, 2026, with a 4:00 PM matchup against Sacred Heart at the Gallagher Center. The game will also be broadcast on AM 1400.