Saturday, January 20^th saw the Niagara Knights men's basketball program fall to the OCAA West Division leading Redeemer Royals 79-76. The loss puts the Knights in a tie with Humber for 3^rd place in the OCAA West Division with a record of 9-4.

The Knights came out strong in the first half, outscoring the Royals 20-16 and 21-12 in the first two quarters. The third quarter saw the Knights begin to struggle defensively, losing the third quarter 28-18, bringing the Royals back into the game.

The beginning of the fourth quarter saw both programs battle hard to keep themselves positioned for the victory. In the final seconds of the game, the Knights gained possession down by three looking for an open man. Niagara's 4^th year guard Levi Mukuna (Hamilton, Ont.) managed to throw up a last minute shot, but it came up just short.

"Tonight, Redeemer showed why they are one of the best programs in the province," said Knights head coach Mike Hurley. "The result is disappointing, but I am happy with the effort level our guys showed throughout the game."

Pacing the Knights offensively was their duo of Levi Mukuna and Van Hutchinson Jr (Nassau, Bahamas) who led their program with 22 points and 19 points, while contributing 11 rebounds respectively.

The Knights are back in action Wednesday, January 24^th when they host the Conestoga Condors (3-10, 9^th OCAA West) at the Welland Campus Athletic Centre.