Maryland 86, Niagara 70: Nick Faust logged 15 points and 11 rebounds as the host Terrapins used a 23-2 second-half run to beat the seventh-seeded Purple Eagles in a National Invitational Tournament first-round matchup and secure their first postseason victory in three years.

Seth Allen and Logan Aronhalt each came off the bench to add 15 points for Maryland (23-12), which will host Denver on Thursday in the second round. Freshman Dez Wells chipped in 12 points while Charles Mitchell had 10.

Antoine Mason led Niagara (19-14) with 24 points, including 12-of-13 shooting from the foul line. Ameen Tanksley scored 18 for the Purple Eagles (19-14), who shot 8-for-26 from 3-point range.

Neither team was able to build a double-digit lead in the first half, entering the break knotted at 35. After a free throw from Devon White gave Niagara a 36-35 lead 14 seconds into the second half, Faust scored five points during a 12-0 run by the Terrapins, giving them a 47-36 lead with 16:35 to go.

Mason made a layup 45 seconds later before 3-pointers by Aronhalt bookended a 12-2 Maryland spurt, which boosted their cushion to 59-40 with 11:31 left. The Purple Eagles could get no closer than 15 points thereafter.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Maryland’s last postseason win prior to Tuesday was an 89-77 victory over Houston to open the 2010 NCAA Tournament. … The Terrapins shot 16-for-19 at the foul line. … Aronhalt finished 5-of-7 beyond the arc.