Recap: Brown vs. Niagara

Providence, RI (Sports Network) - A pair of free throws by Tucker Halpern with eight seconds remaining in overtime proved to be the difference as the Brown Bears slipped by the Purple Eagles of Niagara, 75-74, in non-conference action at the Pizzitola Sports Center.

Halpern finished the night with a double-double consisting of 15 points and a game-high 10 rebounds for the Bears (4-8) as they snapped a two-game slide. Sean McGonagill was responsible for 23 points and seven assists, while Matt Sullivan contributed another 20 points and eight boards, although he shot just 5-of-20 from the floor in the meeting.

The Purple Eagles (7-7) were paced by Ameen Tanksley who tallied 18 points and seven boards before fouling out, while Juan'ya Green responded with 17 points and five assists as the team had a two-game win streak brought to an end. Coming up a rebound shy of his own double-double was Antoine Mason who tallied 13 points, followed by Devon White with 11 and six boards.

Brown came out flat in the first half, shooting just 29.0 percent from the field and turning the ball over 12 times, leading to a 37-27 deficit at the break.

In the second half the Bears turned it around, but still needed a 3-pointer by Sullivan with 13 seconds remaining in regulation to knot the score at 62-62 and send the meeting into overtime.

In the extra session McGonagill accounted for seven of his team's 13 points, but it was the two conversions at the charity stripe by Halpern that kept the hosts in front for the win.

The Bears ended up shooting just 16-of-28 at the free-throw line and suffered 21 turnovers, but a 53-42 rebounding advantage helped to balance the ledger.