(Matt McCarthy/Daily News photo) Niagara sophomore point guard Nicholas Krueger (12) drives to the basket past Suring junior Gavin Frendenburgh (10) in the second half of Tuesday’s Marinette-Oconto Conference game at Niagara.

NIAGARA, Wis. — Sophomore Logan Weber led Niagara with a game-high 21 points as the Badgers defeated Marinette-Oconto Conference foe Suring 51-38 here Tuesday night.

Ty Colenso added 12 points for Niagara, who benefitted from getting out to a fast start at the beginning of each half.

“When we were up at halftime, I told the guys that the first three minutes of the second half are crucial,” said Niagara head coach Steve Derwinski. “Our fast start in both halves was exactly like I asked of them, and it was the difference in the game.”

Niagara jumped to a 13-5 lead about 10 minutes into the game. Within about three minutes, the Eagles narrowed it to 13-10.

After a Niagara timeout, the Badgers began to slow the ball down and were getting good looks at the basket, but the shots weren’t falling.

“Being patient on offense, is something that we’ve been working on in practice,” Derwinski said. “Not pulling up right away and shooting 3’s, trying to work the ball inside, and the boys did a good job of that tonight for the most part.”

As Suring continued to try to inch back into the game, the Badgers led by six points at the half.

A 7-0 Niagara run opened the second half. In that early run and throughout the second half, Weber was working hard to get position on the Eagles’ defenders and getting open looks at the basket.

“Then our Achilles’ heel showed up again, we started turning the ball over,” Derwinski said. “We had over 20 turnovers again tonight, we have to stop with these 20-plus turnover games.”

Suring crept back into the game by working the ball inside and getting some second looks at the basket. They got the score within seven points at 42-35.

“At that point, we weren’t boxing out and they were,” Derwinski added.

In the final minutes, the Badgers went on a 9-3 scoring run to put the game away. Niagara, who improved to 4-7 on the season, travels to M&O powerhouse Coleman on Friday.

Despite 18 points from Preston Stoltz, Suring defeated Niagara 34-32 in the JV contest.

Suring 16 22 — 38

Niagara 22 29 — 51

SURING: Lally 9, Fredenburg 2, Hensel 3, Haak 7. Edwards 2, Yancy 13, Taylor 2; FT: 4-10; F: 24; Fouled Out: Haak, Yancy; 3-point FG: Lally 3, Hensel.

NIAGARA: E. Swanson 8, Lincoln 3, T. Colenso 12, Krueger 7, Weber 21; FT: 15-28; 3-point FG: Krueger 2; F: 11; Fouled Out: None.