[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 4164]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        CONGRATULATING NIAGARA UNIVERSITY MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. LOUISE McINTOSH SLAUGHTER

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 9, 2005

  Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Niagara 
University Men's Basketball Team on winning the 2005 Metro Atlantic 
Athletic Conference (MAAC) Tournament on March 7, 2005. Their win by a 
score of 81-59 over Rider University clinched the Purple Eagles' second 
NCAA Tournament berth, the first appearance since 1970.
  After heartbreaking losses in the conference title game two out of 
the last three years, the Purple Eagles showed their perseverance to 
break through to the ``big dance.'' The accomplishments of Juan Mendez, 
who was the MAAC player of the year and named tournament MVP, and all-
tournament teammates Lorenzo Miles and David Brookshad are impressive, 
but each member of the team needs to be congratulated for this title 
game win.
  However, a team is only as successful as its leader, and Coach Joe 
Mihalich, now in his seventh season at Niagara University, exemplifies 
everything that is good about college athletics. He demands 
accountability from his players both on and off the court, and is a 
strong role model for the entire University community. Under Mihalich's 
guidance, the Purple Eagles have won three of the past seven MAAC 
regular-season titles, advanced to the MAAC Championship game three 
times, and has posted seven-straight winning seasons. Along the way, 
Mihalich quietly has collected the second-most wins in school history 
and was the first Niagara coach to reach 100 wins in just his sixth 
season at the helm.
  Mr. Speaker, I cannot be prouder of the Niagara University's Purple 
Eagles, and I wish to commend University President Father Joseph 
Levesque, the coaching staff and players, and students at Niagara 
University for this championship season. I will be eagerly watching the 
team's first round game in the NCAA tournament as they proudly 
represent Niagara University on the national stage.

                          ____________________