Niagara Falls, NY -- (Sports Network) - Rob Garrison scored 20 points to lead Niagara to a 76-69 victory over Drexel at the Gallagher Center.

Bilal Benn added 19 points and 14 rebounds for the Purple Eagles (1-1), who dropped a 69-65 decision at Auburn in their opener.

Gerald Colds scored 18 points to lead the Dragons (0-2), who lost their opener to Saint Joseph's in overtime.

Niagara led by 10 with seven minutes to play, but poor free throw shooting down the stretch gave Drexel a chance.

A three-pointer by Colds pulled Drexel within 68-64 with 1:17 left and he drilled another from beyond the arc with 24.2 seconds remaining to make a 72-69 game.

Niagara turned the ball over on the ensuing inbounds play, but Derrick Thomas missed a contested three-pointer that would have tied it and Benn sealed it with a pair from the stripe. Garrison added two more from the line for the final margin.

Drexel used a 9-0 run to open a 15-6 lead, but Niagara followed with a 14-2 burst. A three-pointer by Garrison gave the Purple Eagles a 20-17 lead with 9 1/2 minutes remaining in the opening half. Niagara closed the half with a 14-4 run to take a 42-30 advantage into the locker room.

Drexel chipped away in the second half and pulled within 51-46 on a three- pointer by Shannon Givens with 12 minutes to play. The Dragons had a chance to make it a two-point game with just under nine minutes left, but missed a layup and Niagara followed with eight of the next 10 points to open a 63-53 edge with just over seven minutes remaining.