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Canisius University Athletics

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Takal Molson
www.tomwolf.smugmug.com
86
Winner Niagara NIA 13-17, 6-11 MAAC
84
Canisius CAN 13-16, 10-7 MAAC
Winner
Niagara NIA
13-17, 6-11 MAAC
86
Final
84
Canisius CAN
13-16, 10-7 MAAC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Niagara NIA 43 43 86
Canisius CAN 32 52 84

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Late Rally Not Enough as Men’s Basketball Falls to Niagara

Game Recap
Trailing 75-61 with 7:16 seconds left to play, Canisius went on a 21-7 run over the span of 6:02 to tie the game at 82-82 with 44 seconds left to play, but four-straight points from Niagara senior Dominic Robb proved to be the difference down the stretch as the visiting Purple Eagles held on for an 86-84 victory Wednesday night at the Koessler Athletic Center. The win, which snapped Niagara's two-game slide, improved the Purple Eagles to 13-17 overall and 6-11 in the MAAC, while the Griffs fell to 13-16 overall and 10-7 in league play with their second-straight loss.
 
After Niagara freshman Marcus Hammond hit a 3-point field goal from the right wing to put Niagara up 75-61 with 7:16 left on the clock, the Griffs began their comeback effort. Senior Jonathan Sanks got things started for the Blue and Gold with a four-point play after he drained a 3-pointer and the ensuing free-throw after being fouled on the shot attempt. Niagara answered with a bucket on its next possession and the visiting team held an 81-69 lead with 4:12 left on the clock. Out of the under-four media timeout, Canisius rallied to score eight of the game's next nine points, with sophomore Takal Molson accounting for four of those points. Junior Malik Johnson made one-of-two free-throws with 1:38 left to cut Niagara's lead to 82-76, and after a Niagara turnover, sophomore Scott Hitchon hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key to make it a three-point contest at 82-79 with 1:23 showing on the game clock.
 
Following a Canisius timeout and a miss by Niagara, the Griffs raced down the floor, where Johnson found Molson in transition, and the Buffalo, N.Y., native stepped up and banged home a 3-pointer from the right wing to knot the game at 82-82 with 44.5 seconds left on the clock. Out of a Niagara timeout, the Purple Eagles sent the ball inside to Robb, who scored on a turn-around jumper with 18 seconds left to put the Purple Eagles up 84-82. Again, Canisius raced up the floor and had a chance to tie or win the game in the as the clock ticked down, but the Griffs were called for an illegal screen with 9.6 seconds left giving the ball back to Niagara. Robb was fouled on the ensuing in-bounds pass, and he hit both free-throws to seal the victory for Niagara.
 
Molson led all scorers with a career-high 28 points in the loss while also recording nine rebounds. He was one of four Griffs in double-figures in the loss, as the team shot 52.5 percent from the field, 35.5 percent from 3-point range and 69.2 percent from the free-throw line in the losing cause. Johnson added 15 points, five assists and three rebounds while only playing 29 minutes due to foul trouble. Sanks chipped in 13 points and three boards, and sophomore Jalanni White contributed 10 points.
 
For Niagara, Robb scored a team-high 20 points off the bench to go with two assists and a blocked shot. Hammond added 18 points on the power of five 3-point field goals, and James Towns was good for 11 points, five rebounds and four assists. Chris Barton chipped in 10 points as well for Niagara, which shot 51.9 percent from the field, 50 percent (11-for-22) from 3-point land and 77.8 percent from the charity stripe on the night.
 
Head Coach Reggie Witherspoon's Postgame Comments
"On their end, [Niagara] played a heck of a game. They shot the ball extremely well. They deserved to win. On our end, we didn't have enough energy to start the game. For most of the game, we didn't have enough energy, until that late push."
 
Game Notes
• This was the 185th all-time meeting between the two schools. Niagara leads the series 102-83.
• Niagara has now won 14 games in the Koessler Athletic Center, which is the most for any opponent on the Griffs' home court.
• Wednesday marked the 13th time this season the Griffs have played in a game decided by five points or less. Canisius is 10-3 in those 13 contests.
• As a team, Canisius hit 11 3-point field goals, the third-straight game where the Blue and Gold knocked down double-digit treys.
• Sanks' four-point play at the 6:46 mark of the second half is Canisius' sixth four-point play of the season.
• Molson has now scored 20-or more points eight times this season and 14 times in his career. The 28-point night was fueled by a career-high 11 made field goals.
• Johnson's five assists marked the 47th time in his career he's been credited with five-or more assists in a game.
• Johnson, who is the MAAC leader in consecutive starts with 96, tied former Griff and Canisius Hall of Famer Darnell Wilson for 10th on the school's career games started list.

Up Next
Canisius will close out the 2018-19 regular-season at home Friday, when the team plays host to Siena at the Koessler Athletic Center on Senior Night. Game time is set for 9 p.m., and the contest will be broadcast live to a national TV audience on ESPNU. The radio call will be available on WECK-Radio Buffalo, GoGriffs.com and the TuneIn app.
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