LEWISTON, NY – The Niagara Purple Eagles knocked down over 57 percent of their shots as they opened the 2024-25 season with a 100-65 victory over the visiting Houghton University Highlanders on Monday evening.
 
While Niagara counted the competition as an official contest, because of the difference in classification, Houghton was allowed to list the competition as an exhibition match.

The Purple Eagles grabbed the lead 26 seconds into the game on a tip-in by Justice Smith and never trailed thereafter.
 
GAME VITALS
Score: Houghton – 65 | Niagara – 100 
Records: Houghton: 0-0 | Niagara: 1-0  
Venue: Gallagher Center, Niagara University | Attendance: 1,157

NOTABLE STATS
>> Jajuan Preaster led the Highlanders with 16 points, knocking down 7-of-14 shots, while Preston Thomas added 15 points and eight rebounds.
 
>> In his first game as a Highlander, Lou Bellamy picked up his first double-double, scoring 11 points and pulling down a team-best 10 boards.
 
COACH'S CORNER
"Big props to Coach Paulus and his crew on sharing the ball and working for great looks. I thought that at times we had some of our best defensive rotations in my three years here, but Niagara kept moving the ball and patiently waited for a breakdown. That's a big reason why they shot it so well.

"On the other end, we had a lot of good looks that did not go, but it is all something we can build on, which is why we  play these exhibitions.
 
"Jajuan [Preaster] looked very comfortable and made some good reads. He was tough for them to handle and they're an athletic/physical team. I thought his demeanor was good all night, which we fed off of.
 
"Lou Bellamy is not going to have many nights like this from a shooting standpoint. I liked that he stayed engaged and kept working despite shots not falling. And a double-double against that squad is a good night." - Coach Jeremy Bialek

UP NEXT
The Highlanders officially open the 2024-25 season on Friday evening at 7:30pm in the Nielsen Center when they host the Bethany College Bison.