Juan Mendez runs to the hoop against Canisius. (Dan Cappellazzo) Click on photo for larger image

NU avoids Providence repeat
Bill Wolcott
Thursday, December 02, 2025

BUFFALO — Niagara University’s 87-82 basketball victory over Canisius lived up to Little 3 standards Wednesday night in their Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference opener.

Juan Mendez scored 30 points and had 10 rebounds as the Purple Eagles (4-1) turned back the Golden Griffins (1-2) for their fourth straight win in the series that started in 1904-05. Lorenzo Miles made 5-of-7 shots from 3-point range for 17 and James Mathis came off the bench to get 13 points and 13 rebounds.

Niagara Falls native Dewitt Doss had 22 points and Kevin Downey had 21 for Canisius which fell behind 13 points in the first half and was never able to overtake the Eagles.

The atmosphere was intense, with students from each school filling opposite bleachers, wearing appropriate colors and chanting. Niagara provided buses for its students. Almost every seat at the Koessler center was filled.

“The 2,000 (2038) people that were here didn’t have any problem with anybody’s effort on any team,” Canisius coach Mike MacDonald said. “Both teams played at a high level. Both teams were flying all over.”

“It was a great, great college basketball game,” Niagara coach Joe Mihalich said. “Two teams playing with a lot of spirit and a lot of emotion. And it’s just fun. When they were playing, they weren’t thinking about the conference. They were just thinking about what a great rivalry it is.”

“It was all that and more,” Mendez said. “Those guys came in pumped and we tried to match their intensity.”

Niagara went on a 17-0 run in the first half to turn a 20-16 deficit to a 33-20 lead. Mathis started the streak with two free throws and a tip-in and Mendez capped it with a 3-point shot. Miles had four 3-pointers in the first half.

“They were sluffing at lot in the zone,” the sophomore said. “They were putting three people at Juan and I was on the weak side so I was wide open. I was taking my time, getting the skip pass and knocking the shots down. Everybody was worried about Juan and I knew it was coming so I made sure I was ready.”

Doss stopped the Canisius skid with a steal and a lay-up and the Griffs played Niagara even the rest of the way. Canisius had a chance to tie the game, but was turned away.

“You get one of those to go and it changes things,” MacDonald said. “Credit them. They made their free throws (23 out of 26). They did what they had to win.”

There were blocked shots, crashes and dives in the final five minutes. Mathis took a flying leap after a loose ball with :56 seconds left to help Niagara maintain an 80-76 lead.

The Eagles did think of the Providence loss in the final minutes.

“One player said, ‘this is a repeat of Providence,’ ” Mendez related. “”No. No. that’s not going to happen because we’ve learned. That was the first game of the season. This is the fifth.”

Mendez was 10 of 10 from the free throw line.

“We’ve have the horse,” Mihalich said. “We have somebody we can go to. We have somebody who can finish like no other...We knew they wouldn’t go away.”

Mathis got key points and rebounds.

“I know what my role is,” Mathis said. “Me and J.R. Duffey are just here to help Juan. I just rebound and help Juan on defensive glass and get my points on stick backs — garbage points.”

Charron Fisher managed 12 points in 14 minutes. David Brooks made only 4 of 17 shots and finished with 10 points.

Niagara plays at Loyola on Sunday and returns to the Gallagher Center on next Wednesday to play Yale.
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