NU game gets national attention

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - A national TV audience had its eyes on Niagara University this morning, where breakfast took a backseat to basketball and the early bird got the win.

At first glance this may seem like your ordinary basketball match-up.

But when you take a closer look at the fans you'll quickly realize that its not. Shower caps and scrub brushes were a common site at this game simply because the tipoff between the Niagara University Purple Eagles and Drexel was at 8 a.m.

Calvin Murphy, a basketball hall of famer, said, "I know if I had to play this early in the morning I would have never made the ball team."

This was all a part of ESPN's "24 hours of basketball" promotion. Thousands of excited fans packed the Gallagher Center for this nationally televised game.

"That's called the roller coaster. It's a school trandition now and I was the conductor. Every time I come up here it's an obligation of mine to get up there and get it going," said Murphy.

Despite the early start the adreneline rush kept the players and the fans going until the very end. The Purple Eagle's came out on top with a win over Drexel. Final score 76-69.