SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Shaq Shannon scored 20 points as third-seeded Quinnipiac held on for an 89-80 victory over 11th-seeded Niagara in a Metro Athletic Association quarterfinal on Saturday night.
The Bobcats (20-10) advance to Sunday's semifinal game against second-seeded Manhattan (23-7).
Ousmane Drame had 15 points and 16 rebounds for the Bobcats. Ike Azotam added 18 points and Zaid Hearst had 15.
Niagara led through most of the first half before Shannon hit a jumper and back-to-back 3-pointers to help give the Bobcats a 38-36 advantage at the break. A Drame layup at 10:08 extended their lead to 63-57 and Evan Conti's 3-pointer a minute later gave Quinnipiac its first double-digit lead. The Purple Eagles (7-26) pulled to within five on a Wesley Myers 3 with 2:20 to play but the Bobcats finished with 5 of 6 from the line to hold on for the win.
Antoine Mason led Niagara with 28 points.
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