NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – A 12-2 run for Niagara over the first five minutes of the second half made up the difference for the host Purple Eagles in a 76-68 decision over Fairfield University Men's Basketball on Friday evening in Western New York. The Stags were led by 17 points apiece from Allan Jeanne-Rose and TJ Long.
 
With the loss, the Stags move to 12-16 on the season with an 8-10 MAAC record. Niagara improves to 15-12 on the campaign and 10-8 in conference play.
 
The 12-2 run for the Purple Eagles was the only prolonged stretch for either side as the teams primarily traded buckets throughout the contest. Jeanne-Rose and Long each shot 6-for-10 from the floor for the Stags and accounted for four of the club's nine three-pointers. Jalen Leach added eight points with Makai Willis and a returning Jake Wojcik each contributing seven.
 
To round out the scoring, Supreme Cook scored six – shooting 2-for-3 from the field and 2-for-3 from the stripe – with Caleb Fields and James Johns Jr. each adding a trey. Cook hauled in a game-high nine rebounds and Willis corralled five as the Stags were edged out on the boards, 25-23.
 
In addition to his scoring, Jeanne-Rose dished out a game-leading three assists.
 
Niagara was led by the MAAC's leading scorer, Noah Thomasson, who entered the game averaging 18.9 points per contest and improved that mark this evening with a game-best 25 tallies. Braxton Bayless added 19 for the hosts, and Joe Kasperzyk netted 11.

"This was a disappointing loss tonight; we had no answers for Thomasson and Bayless. They are talented players who got to the rim on us all night," said Head Coach Jay Young. "We scored enough points to win the game but lacked the defensive integrity needed to win on the road."
 
Willis accounted for the game's first five points with a putback and three-pointer as the Stags never trailed over the opening 20 minutes. Fields, Leach, Long and Wojcik all added treys in while the Purple Eagles rode Braxton Bayless and Noah Thomasson – with 11 and 10 points respectively – entering the period's final possession. With the clock winding down, Fields drove the land and kicked out to Jeanne-Rose, who buried Fairfield's sixth triple of the half to send the Stags into the locker room with a 36-33 lead.
 
The Stags' scoring touch cooled off during the intermission as Niagara started the frame on a 12-2 run to take its first lead of the day at 45-38. Fairfield's first field goal of the period didn't come until the 13:34 mark when Jeanne-Rose drove to the rim and scored to shave the deficit to 45-40. Jeanne-Rose scored 10 of his 17 in the second half, shouldering the load until Long started to heat up with two layups and a three-pointer. The teams traded buckets for the majority of the frame, which was enough for Niagara to maintain its lead out to a 61-55 tally with 4:42 to play.
 
Fairfield made its final push at that point, with Jeanne-Rose capping his scoring night with a layup and Long banging home his third and final three-pointer of the day to cut the margin to 61-60 with an even four minutes to go. However, Aaron Gray answered with a triple on the home end and the Stags never drew closer four the rest of the way. The Purple Eagles converted their free throws down the stretch to close out the 76-68 final.
 
The Stags close out the Western New York swing and the road portion of the 2022-23 schedule on Sunday, Feb. 26 with a 1 p.m. tip-off at Canisius. The Golden Griffs are 8-19 overall and 6-12 in the MAAC following a 66-53 win over Saint Peter's this evening.
 
Fairfield returns home to wrap up the regular season on Thursday, March 2 against Quinnipiac. Opening tip on Senior Night is slated for 7:30 p.m. as the back-end of a Fairfield Basketball doubleheader.