Niagara

Justin Drummond scored six of his game-high 21 points during a 15-2 Loyola run and the visiting Greyhounds beat Niagara, 67-55, Friday night. Marvin Jordan made one of two at the free-throw line to pull the Purple Eagles (9-13 overall, 4-6 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) within a point, and a 3-pointer by Antoine Mason gave Niagara a 46-44 lead with just over eight minutes to play. Drummond tied the game with a layup 26 seconds later and made two free throws with 7:12 on the clock to put Loyola (15-5, 8-2)

COLLEGE PARK - As the televisions in Maryland's locker room showed fans at Robert Morris storming the court after their team upset Kentucky in the first round of the NIT on Tuesday night, the Terps seemed to differ in their reactions. Some were happy that one of the top seeds in the 32-team field had been eliminated, as was Atlantic Coast Conference rival Florida State. Others were upset that the potential for two payback games - against the Wildcats and Seminoles - was now gone as well.

Loyola entered what coach Jimmy Patsos called "part 3" of its season Saturday night; and the Greyhounds, already the most-successful team in the school's Division I history, did it well. "We went and played a tough non-conference schedule and we did well in the non-conference (8-3)," Patsos said. "Then you have the second part, which is the MAAC (regular season). Then you have the third part, the MAAC tournament, and the fourth part, postseason. " Having accomplished parts 1 and 2, Loyola kicked off part 3 with an 86-73 victory over Niagara in the quarterfinals of the MAAC league tourney.

Welcome back to Morning Shootaround, a regular feature this season the day after Maryland basketball games. We will recap what Maryland coach Mark Turgeon and his players said in the postgame news conference. We will give some of our own insight into what transpired on the court during the previous day's game and what the Terps will be working on at practice looking ahead to their next game. Maryland 86, Niagara 70 at Comcast Center on Tuesday (NIT first round) Given how unpredictable the Terps have been for most of the past two months, nobody was quite sure which of Mark Turgeon's teams would show up for the first postseason game.

Loyola's second-half comeback fell short today as Niagara held on for an 86-77 victory at Reitz Arena. Six Purple Eagles scored at least nine points, including four in double figures. The Greyhounds (10-12, 3-9 MAAAC) started their rally on three-pointers by Garret Kelly and Brett Harvey to cut the lead to 51-38. Brian Rudolph then took a steal down the court for a fastbreak layup and cut the lead to 11. Niagara (12-12, 5-7 MAAC) missed on the two possessions but finally got a basket in at 12:24 with a layup by Tyrone Lewis on the fastbreak.

Loyola's women's basketball team put together a second-half rally but fell short, losing 58-47 to Niagara on Thursday night. Katie Sheahin led the Greyhounds (9-13, 4-7 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) with 12 points, eight rebounds and four steals. Freshman Diana Logan led the bench with six points. The Purple Eagles (11-11, 6-5) led by as many as 14 points with just over 12 minutes left in the second half. Kelly Van Leeuwen connected on a free throw that sent the score to 40-26 in favor of Niagara.

Julius Brooks made a layup with one second to go in double overtime to give Loyola an 89-87 victory over host Niagara on Saturday and end a two-game losing streak. The Greyhounds (16-8, 8-4 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) led by two late in the second extra session, but Malcolm Lemmons tied the game with a pair of free throws with three seconds to play. Brooks then hit the winning points on a pass from Erik Etherly. Anthony Winbush forced overtime with a pair of free throws with 35 seconds left in regulation.

Coach Mark Turgeon is hoarse with a bad cold, scoring leader Dez Wells has been nursing a sore knee since midway through the ACC tournament, and Maryland has had to get over playing four games in seven days and not making the NCAA tournament. Despite all that, the Terps (22-12) were getting motivated to play basketball again, beginning with a home game Tuesday night against Niagara (19-13) in the first round of the NIT. If they win, they would play the Ohio-Denver winner. The future schedule has not been finalized, but that second-round game would likely be at Comcast Center on Thursday.

Maryland's men's basketball season will continue in the NIT, where the Terps are a No. 2 seed and will open Tuesday night at Comcast Center against seventh-seeded Niagara of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. If Maryland (22-12) defeats Niagara (19-13) - the game is on ESPN2 - the Terps would get a second home game against the winner of third-seeded Denver and sixth-seeded Ohio. If the Terps advanced, they would then face a team from the side of the bracket that includes Alabama and Stanford.

Loyola (12-15, 7-9) shot 56 percent from the field in the second half and rallied to a 71-63 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference victory over visiting Niagara (12-15, 9-7). Meredith Tolley scored 21 points and had five rebounds in helping the Greyhounds to their largest margin of victory since a 74-57 win over Manhattan on Jan. 15. Miriam McKenzie (Oakland Mills) added 17 points and tied her career high with 11 rebounds. More Division I games: Host UNC Wilmington (10-16, 5-10)

COLLEGE PARK - It was growing late in the first half and Maryland trailed Niagara by six points. The sparse, fidgety Comcast Center crowd had to be wondering when and if the Terps would check in mentally for their National Invitation Tournament opener. Led by Nick Faust, second-seeded Maryland woke up and used its press and fast break effectively in a second-half surge to rout seventh-seeded Niagara, 86-70, and advance to the second round before an announced 4,053. Faust (City)

Coach Mark Turgeon is hoarse with a bad cold, scoring leader Dez Wells has been nursing a sore knee since midway through the ACC tournament, and Maryland has had to get over playing four games in seven days and not making the NCAA tournament. Despite all that, the Terps (22-12) were getting motivated to play basketball again, beginning with a home game Tuesday night against Niagara (19-13) in the first round of the NIT. If they win, they would play the Ohio-Denver winner. The future schedule has not been finalized, but that second-round game would likely be at Comcast Center on Thursday.

Maryland's men's basketball season will continue in the NIT, where the Terps are a No. 2 seed and will open Tuesday night at Comcast Center against seventh-seeded Niagara of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. If Maryland (22-12) defeats Niagara (19-13) - the game is on ESPN2 - the Terps would get a second home game against the winner of third-seeded Denver and sixth-seeded Ohio. If the Terps advanced, they would then face a team from the side of the bracket that includes Alabama and Stanford.

Loyola's women's basketball team put together a second-half rally but fell short, losing 58-47 to Niagara on Thursday night. Katie Sheahin led the Greyhounds (9-13, 4-7 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) with 12 points, eight rebounds and four steals. Freshman Diana Logan led the bench with six points. The Purple Eagles (11-11, 6-5) led by as many as 14 points with just over 12 minutes left in the second half. Kelly Van Leeuwen connected on a free throw that sent the score to 40-26 in favor of Niagara.

Julius Brooks made a layup with one second to go in double overtime to give Loyola an 89-87 victory over host Niagara on Saturday and end a two-game losing streak. The Greyhounds (16-8, 8-4 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) led by two late in the second extra session, but Malcolm Lemmons tied the game with a pair of free throws with three seconds to play. Brooks then hit the winning points on a pass from Erik Etherly. Anthony Winbush forced overtime with a pair of free throws with 35 seconds left in regulation.

Towson forward Jerrelle Benimon, a Georgetown transfer, had 29 points and 10 rebounds as the Tigers came back to beat host Vermont, 68-64, on Wednesday night in a nonconference game. Benimon went 11-for-15 from the field with three assists and four steals. Towson (4-4) made 26 of 52 shots from the field and had 13 steals to go with five blocks. Luke Apfeld led Vermont (4-3) with 23 points. Towson led 38-33 at halftime against the Catamounts, the defending America East Conference champs, who were coming off a loss Saturday to Rhode Island.

Welcome back to Morning Shootaround, a regular feature this season the day after Maryland basketball games. We will recap what Maryland coach Mark Turgeon and his players said in the postgame news conference. We will give some of our own insight into what transpired on the court during the previous day's game and what the Terps will be working on at practice looking ahead to their next game. Maryland 86, Niagara 70 at Comcast Center on Tuesday (NIT first round) Given how unpredictable the Terps have been for most of the past two months, nobody was quite sure which of Mark Turgeon's teams would show up for the first postseason game.

Camille Joyner scored a career-high 24 points to lead host Loyola to a 78-67 victory over Niagara in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference women's basketball game last night.Patty Stoffey added 18 points, a career-high 19 rebounds and five assists for the Greyhounds (17-8, 7-6), who are seeded fourth in the MAAC tournament and will play the fifth seed, Siena, on Friday at 3:15 p.m. in Albany, N.Y.Anne Rudnicki led Niagara (10-16, 5-9) with 19 points.

A Baltimore circus-arts instructor and her students are at Niagara Falls today, where they'll be helping to prime the live audience for Friday's televised walk across the falls by high-wire artist Nik Wallenda. "It's going to be chaotic," Erica Saben, founder of Charm City Movement Arts, said Friday morning after arriving at Niagara Falls the previous afternoon. "I hope we'll get a good spot to watch the walk ourselves. We'll have to see how big the media hype is. " Wallenda's family has been walking high wires as the Flying Wallendas for generations.

Loyola entered what coach Jimmy Patsos called "part 3" of its season Saturday night; and the Greyhounds, already the most-successful team in the school's Division I history, did it well. "We went and played a tough non-conference schedule and we did well in the non-conference (8-3)," Patsos said. "Then you have the second part, which is the MAAC (regular season). Then you have the third part, the MAAC tournament, and the fourth part, postseason. " Having accomplished parts 1 and 2, Loyola kicked off part 3 with an 86-73 victory over Niagara in the quarterfinals of the MAAC league tourney.