NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. -- James Towns scored 20 points, Kahlil Dukes added 17 and the pair fueled a second-half rally after Niagara lost high-scoring guard Matt Scott to edge Iona 85-84 on Friday night.

Dukes' free throw gave the Purple Eagles (18-10, 11-4 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) an 85-82 lead with five seconds left. Niagara fouled Roland Griffin, who missed both free throws, and though Jan Svandrlik got the putback, Iona was unable to foul before the buzzer.

Scott, who came in averaging 19.9 points per game, scored 10 points in the first 11 minutes before leaving with an apparent ankle injury with Iona taking a 47-37 lead at the break. Dukes and Towns scored 13 points each in the second half as Niagara rallied to tie with 9:24 left and took the lead for good on Greg King's dunk with 4:40 remaining.

Griffin scored 17 points to lead Iona (16-12, 10-6).

With Canisius winning Friday to join Rider in first place in the MAAC, Niagara is now in second place and Iona third.