Published: November 22, 2008 11:13 pm      

MEN'S BASKETBALL: NU overcomes early malaise to beat App. St.

LEWISTON — “An average team would’ve gotten blown out,” their coach said.

The Niagara Purple Eagles exhibited each of their early-season weaknesses in the first few minutes of Saturday’s game at the Gallagher Center. They were sloppy on offense, turning the ball over, forcing jump shots, and even, on occasion, snipping at each other. They missed free throws. And even with their newfound defensive intensity, opposing shooters found themselves wide open far too often.

After five minutes, the visiting Appalachian State Mountaineers were up 15-3 and coach Joe Mihalich was compelled to call a timeout to lay into his team for lack of intensity — a tactic he rarely employs.

“We came out a little lackadaisical, a little flat,” said Rob Garrison, the Niagara Falls native. “We just didn’t have it at all.”

Even after the timeout, Niagara took a few minutes to find their groove. But with Garrison and Tyrone Lewis leading the offensive charge, and backup big man Kamau Gordon providing the most productive play of his career, Niagara evened the score by halftime.

“It came a time when we looked up and it was just like: now or never,” Garrison said. “We needed to pick it up, and that’s what we did.”

The lead changed hands seven times in the early stages of the second half, but a zone defense and better offensive execution allowed the Purple Eagles to enjoy a 95-80 victory in front of their 1,933 fans, and improve to 2-1 on the young season.

Bilal Benn scored 16 of his career-high 22 points in the second half, hitting a pair of 3-point shots and all eight of his free throws down the stretch.

“It was my teammates getting into my face at halftime and (they) told me to shoot the ball,” the Villanova transfer said. “Demetrius (Williamson) came up to me and said stop hesitating.”

Benn also flirted with a triple-double, snaring 11 rebounds and dishing seven assists, a team-high. He also had three of Niagara’s nine steals.

“I told the team in the locker room that I think this was Bilal’s breakout game,” Mihalich said.

Lewis also scored 22 points, punctuating his performance with a tomahawk jam late.

“That was for coach Mihalich,” Lewis said. “He’s always getting on me because last year, I was shaky on my dunks. I only had two.”

“I don’t remember them,” Mihalich shot back. “I remember you had a few your freshman year.”

Garrison had a dozen of his career-high 19 points in the first half, getting the basket when Niagara’s offense break down, and draining a pair of deep threes.

Appalachian State (1-2) was led by Kellen Brand and Donald Sims, who each had 20 points. Bruising big man Issac Butts gave the Purple Eagles trouble early, but wound up playing only 15 minutes because coach Houston Fancher didn’t think he matched up well against Niagara’s zone.

Fancher, whose team lost to the Purple Eagles on a buzzer-beating three from Stanley Hodge last February, said this year’s Niagara team is more dynamic.

“They’re less one-dimensional, he said. “Last year, everything ran through Charron Fisher.”

“I know a lot of people thought that with Charron gone, Ty’s got to score 20 points for us, Ty’s got to be the next Charron,” said Lewis, referencing the Niagara forward who nearly led the nation in scoring last season.

“But it’s a lot of fun when you don’t always have to be The Man all the time. There’s no problem being The Man, but if you have to do it every night, it starts to get stressful. It’s a lot easier when you’ve got your team behind you, and other guys can step up.”

Gordon may not have been The Man on Saturday, but he was one of the team’s most steady performers — something that seemed impossible in the two seasons prior. He scored a career-high 12 points on 5-for-5 shooting. With starting center Benson Egemonye struggling in the first half, Gordon came in and scored seven points, blocked two shots, and made a steal that set up a fastbreak slam from Lewis that tied the game at 43 just before the half.

“It felt good to come in there and be ready to go,” Gordon said. “Whenever my number is called, I’ll be ready.”