Spieth scores career-high 27 points; Brown beats Niagara
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) Steven Spieth had a career-high 27 points and nine assists, and grabbed 10 rebounds as Brown bounced back from a season-opening loss to beat Niagara 88-79 on Sunday.
The Bears shot 35 of 45 from the line for 78 percent, with Spieth going 19 of 22. Obi Okolie scored 15 points and Joshua Howard added 14 for Brown (1-1). Tavon Blackmon had 13 points and made 7 of 10 free throws.
Kahlil Dukes had 16 points to lead Niagara (0-2).
The Bears took the lead for good at the 11-minute mark of the first half. Niagara stayed within single digits and pulled to 64-60 with about nine minutes left, but did not get closer. Brown used a 17-10 spurt to make it 81-70 with three minutes left. Travis Fuller scored eight of his 10 points during the stretch.