ALBANY, N.Y. (Interstat) — Siena asserted its dominance early and never relented, cruising to an 83-54 victory over Niagara in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference men’s basketball game Friday night at Times Union Center.

The Saints, improving to 8-2 overall, built a commanding 25-point halftime lead behind a blistering offensive display and suffocating defense, leaving the struggling Purple Eagles (2-6) with no path back into the contest.

The most critical stretch of the game arrived early and decisively. After Niagara’s Reggie Prudhomme hit a 3-pointer to cut Siena’s early lead to 7-5, the Saints unleashed a devastating 24-2 run over the next eight minutes that effectively decided the outcome. The surge was fueled by a combination of efficient offense and relentless defensive pressure.

Siena’s backcourt duo of Justice Shoats and Gavin Doty spearheaded the run. Shoats, who finished with 15 points and eight assists, initiated the offense with precision, while Doty provided a scoring punch on his way to a team-high 16 points. The Saints’ ball movement was crisp, leading to open looks, and they capitalized on Niagara’s cold shooting and turnovers.

Defensively, Siena’s length and activity overwhelmed Niagara. The Saints recorded eight blocks in the game, with Tasman Goodrick and Francis Folefac each swatting three shots. Those rejections ignited transition opportunities and stifled any attempt by the Purple Eagles to establish an interior presence. Niagara managed just 21 points in the first half, shooting a frigid 4 of 22 from 3-point range for the game.

Siena’s offensive rating of 124.5 on 67 possessions underscored its efficiency. The Saints shot 52.5% from the field and 45.8% from beyond the arc, sharing the ball effectively despite registering only three assists as a team, a testament to their ability to create and finish in one-on-one situations and early offense.

Niagara, which scored 33 points in the second half after the game was out of reach, was led by Prudhomme’s 10 points. The Purple Eagles shot 36.7% overall and committed only five turnovers, but their inability to generate consistent offense against Siena’s defense proved insurmountable. Their offensive rating of 82.8 highlighted their struggles.

Isaiah Henderson provided a significant spark off the bench for Siena, scoring 13 points in 21 minutes, including a pair of 3-pointers during the first-half onslaught. Brendan Coyle added 13 points and Christian Jones chipped in nine, as the Saints’ depth was on full display before a crowd of 4,259.

The victory extended Siena’s strong start to the season, while Niagara continued to search for answers amid a challenging non-conference slate that has included heavy defeats. The Saints covered the pregame spread as 14-point favorites, and the total score of 137 fell under the over/under line of 131.5.

Siena will look to continue its momentum when it hosts Canisius on Sunday. Niagara, meanwhile, faces a quick turnaround, traveling to face Saint Peter’s on Sunday as it seeks to end a three-game skid.