Despite spotting the visiting Algoma University Thunderbirds a 15-point first quarter lead, the Niagara College Men's Basketball Program battled hard all night before taking a late fourth quarter lead that gave the Knights a 78-71 victory.

The win moves Niagara ahead of Algoma into fifth place in the OCAA West Division standings.

Niagara Head Coach Steve Atkin called the exciting and high energy affair "a great game. They are a good team, and tonight's matchup was great basketball."

Five players for the Knights scored in double digits. Third-year guard Jimmy Bilenga led the attack recording 19 points, while Ashton Stephenson added 17.Marako Lundy (12), Alex Campbell (11) andDarian Rowe (10) rounded out the Knights double-digit scorers.

The Knights were badly outrebounded in the affair. Algoma recorded 32 boards while the Knights grabbed just 11. "We need to figure out our rebounding situation," commented Coach Atkin. "It's very difficult to win a game when you give an opponent such an advantage in possessions."

The Knights used an aggressive three-quarter court press defense in the second half that seemed to give the Algoma side trouble.

Coach Atkin commented "we wanted to change the tempo of the game, and we accomplished that."

The fourth quarter saw the Knights' aggressive defense begin to pay off as the Thunderbirds ran into foul trouble. The Knights outscored Algoma 24-14 in the fourth quarter primarily due to the team shooting 11-15 from the foul line in the frame.

The Knights will have little time to celebrate the Saturday night victory as the team will host the Sault College Cougars on Sunday, January 20 at 3:00pm at the Welland Campus Athletic Centre.

All Niagara College Varsity Athletics feature free admission and are live broadcasted at www.sportslive.ca.