By Tim Schmitt
Nobody will come out and say it, but they’re all thinking it — Niagara’s men’s basketball team had little chance during a 69-65 loss at Auburn.
But not because the Purple Eagles lacked talent.
Friday’s contest was a guarantee game, a way for the athletic department to pull in some much-needed revenue by traveling to meet a power conference school. I’m not certain the exact figure, but different sources told me the Purple Eagles probably pulled in about $50,000 to play the Tigers. There is no return date scheduled.
But with the cash comes a Christians-to-face-the-lions mentality. Southeastern Conference teams don’t lose to Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference teams often. And almost never at home.
As one local coach told me, “if you’re Niagara, you’re gonna have to win by 15 to win at a place like that. They can’t let you win.”
Sure enough, after Niagara got a lead late in the second half — even with all-MAAC performer Tyrone Lewis on the bench with a tweaked ankle — the fouls started appearing from thin air.
Here’s how Andrew Gribble, a beat writer following the Tigers for the Opelika-Auburn News, described one of the final plays.
“Following a timeout, (DeWayne) Reed took possession with the Tigers down two and 19 seconds to play. He wasted little time, driving straight to the hoop and going up for the layup,” Gribble wrote. “He was fouled by Niagara’s Austin Cooley about two steps before his shot, but his continuation made the layup count.”
Continuation? Was Dick Bavetta working the game?
Last time I checked, there is no continuation rule in college hoops, meaning even the hometown reporter realized how egregious the call was. Apparently, radio play-by-play man Todd Callen also saw the ref’s misstep, a point you’d know if you heard his call.
Not surprising, the host Tigers shot 30 free throws while the Purple Eagles shot just 10.
“I’m really proud of my team,” NU coach Joe Mihalich said. “We had a Southeast Conference team beat in their gym. We had them beat. A couple plays down the stretch didn’t go our way. We are really proud of our team.”
It’s a simple truth — money talks. But give Niagara more credit than a trivial four-point loss. ... As for Lewis, he was hobbling around the Gallagher Center on Saturday, taking in the women’s volleyball win over Canisius while wearing a soft cast. He said he felt OK, though, and should be ready to go when the Purple Eagles open their schedule on ESPN2 by hosting Drexel at 8 a.m. Tuesday. ... And while we’re on the subject of Niagara hoops, here’s what a local season-ticket holder dropped in a recent conversation. “When we bought our season tickets, my husband and I were really hoping for an early-morning game so we could take off work on a Tuesday. And to drive all the way to HSBC Arena for another game. That’s why we get season tickets for Niagara, so we can drive 40 minutes into Buffalo instead of see the time play right by our house.” Ah, sweet sarcasm.
Is Grand Island’s Kern a charm?
Since the Bills obviously need a boost in the luck department, maybe they should consider signing hometown product Brett Kern in the off-season. They’ll get a look at him today. The Grand Island punter started the season with Denver, helping the Broncos to a perfect 6-0 start. He was released, though, in favor of Mitch Berger, largely because his low, deep kicks were allowing teams to get long returns. At the time, Kern ranked 10th in the league in gross average, but was 27th in net punting. He also led the league in touchbacks with 10 at the time he was cut. Since the Broncos cut him, though, they’ve dropped two straight. And the team that immediately picked him up, Tennessee, was winless in six starts when it signed him on. They’ve won two straight. Kern has been splendid with the Titans, getting five of his nine punts inside the 20, including three in his debut against Jacksonville. The hardest part of switching teams wasn’t getting used to a new snapper or dealing with new coaches, but rather getting his whole clan packed up to move cross-country.
“It happened so quickly and such a short notice that we were trying to fly my mom out to help my wife out in Denver. We had a snow storm so it was pretty tough. I was here practicing and stuff like that, and my wife was left back in Denver to try and pack everything up and come here as quickly as possible,” Kern said when he was introduced to the Tennessee media. “I definitely love the city. It’s a beautiful city.” ...
Afinogenov, Annesley and more
Don’t look now but Maxim Afinogenov has worked his way up to the first line with the Atlanta Thrashers, and is already a bona fide candidate for comeback player of the year. Afinogenov had a pair of goals in the Thrashers’ 7-0 victory over the L.A. Kings and seems to be a perfect piece to play alongside Ilya Kovalchuk. The two each had four points on the night — two goals and two assists on each other’s goals. “We originally thought it would be better for him to play with (Slava Kozlov),” Thrashers coach John Anderson told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “The way the injuries went and this and that, it ended up that way. He played well enough for me to have that confidence in him. He deserves that spot because that’s not where he started off. He’s gotten better and better.” Afinogenov has six goals and 10 assists in 16 games. He only had 20 points in 48 games all last season. ... Although it was in another loss, it was nice to see senior Ryan Annesley on the ice as the Niagara men’s hockey team opened its College Hockey America season against Robert Morris on Friday. According to coach Dave Burkholder, Annesley was scheduled to have season-ending shoulder surgery, but after consultation, got clearance to play out the year. He won’t be at full strength. “When he has the puck, it’s good for us,” Burkholder said. ... Wonder how former Niagara men’s hockey players feel about the move to Atlantic Hockey? When I called for last week’s story on the 10-year anniversary of the only NU team to win an NCAA Tournament game, Dr. Jon Marshall gave me an earful. “It’s a real shame,” Marshall said. “They would have been better off going back to being an independent.” Suffice it to say, that’s a common thought among those who played for and are still coaching the team.
Contact sports editor Tim Schmitt at 282-2311, ext. 2266.
