Box Score

                NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – The game of basketball is often filled with ironies. So it should not be lost on anyone who has followed the Fairfield University men's basketball over the last four years that Tyler Nelson wears the number 3 on his uniform, a number he carried over from his high school years and even before that.

                With just over seven minutes left in the second half, Nelson released a shot from the deep corner that touched only twine, his 282nd three-point basket which set him apart from every other Stag who ever wore the uniform. Nelson became the career leader in that category, eclipsing Derek Needham's total set from 2009-13.

                Nelson would add one more for good measure later in the second half and finish with a team-high 17 points, but the day would end disappointingly for the senior guard as Fairfield saw its three-game winning streak come to an end at the hands of Niagara University, a 95-83 decision at the Gallagher Center.

                The Purple Eagles focused on Nelson and made him work for every one of those 17 points, especially anything from outside. Niagara, known for its offense as the top scoring team in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC), played physically on defense but the Stags proved to be adept at finding their way to the basket or finding ways to get open shots.

                "It was a physical game because they are a real physical team," Nelson said. "We knew that they would be focused on me at the start. It was a tough road game and I wish we made more shots as a team. But now we need to move forward and get ready for the next one."

                The Stags were able to make runs at the Purple Eagles but the home team managed to withstand those stretches and counter with strings of points that kept Fairfield at an arm's length throughout the game. In the first half, Fairfield was able to stay within a possession or two of Niagara and only trailed by two points with two minutes remaining in the half.

                The Purple Eagles closed out those final minutes with a 10-2 run that saw that one-possession lead explode into a 10-point halftime advantage with Marvin Prochet scoring the final eight points in the final 95 seconds of play. The forward made all three of his three-point field goals in the opening 20 minutes, including back-to-back long-range jumpers during that run.

                At the start of the second half, Niagara continued to build on its halftime edge as it netted the first five points to push the lead to 54-39. After Ferron Flavors Jr. netted a three-pointer to cut the lead to 12 points, Head Coach Sydney Johnson quickly called timeout to give his team time to collect itself and make adjustments. The break was just what the Stags appeared to need as they would go on a 13-6 spurt that would bring the lead back to within three points at 58-55 with 15:04 on the clock.

                Jonathan Kasibabu was the heart and soul of that run, scoring nine of those points with Nelson making up the other four points. The guard was also instrumental in Kasibabu's points, dishing off an assist on two of the forward's four baskets.

                "That's an instance where you just have to take what the defense is giving me," Nelson said. "If I am not getting the chance to go to the basket, it's my job to set up my teammates or step inside (the three-point line) and find a closer shot."

                Back-to-back baskets on the next two possessions allowed Niagara to gain some distance before Aidas Kavaliauskas laid the ball in the basket to make it a five point game at 62-57. On the next possession, Dukes found his way to the open corner and netted a three pointer that turned the momentum in Niagara's favor, tipping off an 11-2 run that put the Purple Eagles in control at 73-59 with 11 minutes left in the game.

                Fairfield made several efforts to get back into the game but Niagara always seemed able to turn back those comeback hopes with its only mini-runs. Niagara was able to increase its lead to 16 points after Matt Scott's layup, but Nelson cut into that deficit with his second three-point shot of the game, the one that made him the program's all-time three-point leader.

                "It's a good accomplishment and something I am certainly proud of," Nelson said. "It was never a goal or anything but I am honored that I could set the record and hopefully make more as I continue through the season."

                The Purple Eagles biggest lead came at the 5:11 mark after Prochet's layup made the score 87-67. The Stags whittled away over the closing minutes before settling on the final margin of 12 points.

                In addition to Nelson, Aidas Kavaliauskas (14 points), Flavors Jr. (14), and Kasibabu (11) each reached double figures for the Stags. Dukes led all Niagara scorers with 22 points while Prochet and Scott posted a double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds each.

                Fairfield closes out its upstate New York swing on Monday night when it takes on Canisius College at 7 pm.