LEWISTON — Shorthanded yet again, St. Bonaventure fell to Big 4 rival Niagara Monday night, 80-72, at the Gallagher Center.

A 22-11 disparity in fouls called led to a 19-2 edge in free throws made for the Purple Eagles.

Playing without two senior starters, Courtney Stockard and LaDarien Griffin, the Bonnies jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead in the game’s 1:05 behind baskets from Amadi Ikpeze, Tsheifu Ngalakulondi and Jalen Poyser.

Marvin Prochet scored eight of Niagara’s first 13 points as they cut the early deficit to 16-13 midway through the first half. The Purple Eagles seized their first lead of the contest late in the first behind a 14-0 run over a span of three minutes to open a 27-22 lead.

Despite the Bonnies shooting 40.6 percent from the field and 50 percent from deep, Niagara took a 34-31 lead into the locker room.

Bona made its first seven out of 10 shots of the second half and outscored Niagara 16-8 to retake the lead at 47-42.

Back-to-back transition 3-pointers from Keleaf Tate put the Purple Eagles up one, 48-47, with 13 minutes to play. The Bonnies trailed 54-49 with just over nine minutes to play when Kyle Lofton hit a 3 with the shot clock winding down to bring Bona back within two, 54-52.

Osun Osunniyi kept the Bonnies within four, 62-58, with blocks on consecutive Niagara possessions with four minutes to play. An alley-oop from Lofton to Ngalakulondi pulled the Bonnies within five with three minutes to go. The Purple Eagles still led, 65-60.

Niagara pulled ahead, 68-62, with two minutes left before Prochet hit a deep three to put Niagara in command.

NOTES: St. Bonaventure was without injured senior forwards Courtney Stockard, who missed his third straight game, and LaDarien Griffin. Melkisedek Moreaux also did not dress due to an injury. … Sophomore forward Tshiefu Ngalakulondi registered his first career double-double with 14 points and a career-high 13 rebounds. … Jalen Poyser reached the 20-point plateau for the second straight game, ending with 21 points. … St. Bonaventure will play in the Cayman Islands Classic Nov. 19-21 in Georgetown, Grand Cayman. The Bonnies’ first opponent will be Georgia State on Nov. 19 at 5 p.m.

NIAGARA 80, ST. BONAVENTURE 72

ST. BONAVENTURE (1-2)

Ngalakulondi 6-12 0-1 14, Ikpeze 2-8 0-0 4, Lofton 3-6 0-0 7, Poyser 9-18 2-2 21, Welch 4-10 0-0 10, Osunniyi 7-8 0-0 14, Okoli 0-1 0-0 0, Kaputo 1-5 0-0 2. Totals 32-68 2-3 72.

NIAGARA (1-0)

Robb 2-5 2-2 6, Prochet 6-9 5-7 20, Tate 7-16 1-2 17, Barton 2-5 2-2 6, Towns 4-10 9-12 18, King 2-3 0-0 4, Kuakumensah 0-1 0-0 0, Green 2-2 0-0 4, Solomon 0-3 0-0 0, Fragala 2-5 0-0 5, Hammond 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 27-62 19-25 80.

Halftime–Niagara 34-31. 3-Point Goals–St. Bonaventure 6-15 (Ngalakulondi 2-3, Welch 2-4, Lofton 1-2, Poyser 1-4, Kaputo 0-2), Niagara 7-22 (Prochet 3-5, Tate 2-5, Fragala 1-2, Towns 1-4, Robb 0-1, Barton 0-1, Solomon 0-2, Hammond 0-2). Fouled Out–Lofton. Rebounds–St. Bonaventure 33 (Ngalakulondi 13), Niagara 37 (Prochet 10). Assists–St. Bonaventure 13 (Lofton 4), Niagara 13 (Tate, Prochet 3). Total Fouls–St. Bonaventure 22, Niagara 11. A–2,221 (2,400).