Bucknell 88, Niagara 71

Published Nov. 16, 2012 10:39 p.m. ET

foxsports

Mike Muscala had 18 points and 16 rebounds to lead six Bucknell players in double figures as the Bison rallied to beat Niagara 88-71 Friday night in the 2K Sports Classic.

Down by as many as 12 and 43-38 at the break, Bucknell (3-0) shot 64.3 percent in the second half (18 of 28) compared to 23.3 percent (7 of 30) for the Purple Eagles.

The Bison opened the second half with 11 straight points to lead 49-43.

Niagara (1-2) trimmed the deficit to three but could get no closer. At 55-52, Bryson Johnson's 3-pointer sparked an 11-3 Bucknell run and the Purple Eagles could not trim the margin below seven the rest of the way.

Johnson scored 15 points for the Bison, while Joe Willman, Cameron Ayers and Ryan Frazier had 12 apiece and Steven Kaspar 11.

Antoine Mason led Niagara with 14 points and Juan'ya Green had 13.