Defense is the new name of the game for the Niagara men’s basketball team.

For the first time in six years, the Purple Eagles held an opponent to under 50 points, defeating Monmouth, 71-48, in the Philly Hoop Group Classic on Friday afternoon at the Palestra in Philadelphia.

The key span came in the first half, when Niagara went on a 21-1 run over 7:53.

During that run, Monmouth (0-6) went 0-for-9 with seven turnovers while Niagara was sparked by seven points from junior Demetrius Williamson and three blocked shots from freshman Kashief Edwards.

In all, Niagara held Monouth to just 28.1 percent from the field for the game (18 of 64), forcing 14 turnovers with six blocked shots and six steals.

“Our defense really got us going in the first,” Niagara head coach Joe Mihalich said. “Then, to get a spark off the bench from Demetrius and Kashief was really nice.”

The last time the Purple Eagles held a team to under 50 points was a 65-42 win at Loyola on Feb. 13, 2002.

Williamson scored a career-high 14 points while Edwards had a career-best 11 points.

Rob Garrison had a game-high 18 points as Niagara shot 50 percent (24 for 48) from the field.

The Purple Eagles (4-1) play Hartford at 2 p. m. today to close out the Philadelphia tournament.