Canisius breaks away from Niagara in 77-64 win

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (AP) Phil Valenti scored 15 points and hauled in 10 rebounds to lead Canisius to a 77-64 win over Niagara on Saturday.

Tied 34-34 at the break, Canisius (4-3, 2-0 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) broke away early in the second period with a 14-3 run that included three straight buckets from Jeremiah Williams and was bookended with 3-pointers from Jermaine Crumpton and Zach Lewis to make it 54-43 with 11:36 to play. The Griffins held the lead down the stretch.

Crumpton and Josiah Heath contributed 13 points apiece and Jamal Reynolds added 12 for Canisius, which shot 49.1 percent from the field and 8 of 16 from beyond the arc.

Matt Scott led Niagara (1-5, 1-1) with 13 points, and Wesley Myers had 11.

Canisius has won four straight over Niagara but trails in the overall series 96-79.