No one player captured the spirit and determination of the Niagara community more than No. 3, Phil Scaffidi. He came to campus after a two-year stint in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization as a hard-nosed, gritty player from St. Joseph’s Collegiate. The 6-0 guard had a knack for hitting big shots during his career. As captain of the 1978-79 team, he was on his way to setting the all-time assist record and scoring 1,000 career points in his senior year when he entered a Buffalo hospital with kidney-liver problems and tests indicated cancer. He underwent an operation in Colorado and was treated at Buffalo’s Roswell Park Memorial Institute. He was able to return to the court for six games in the 1979-80 campaign. On Jan. 21, 1980, he scored eight points and added two assists to set the Niagara all-time assist mark with 403 and lead Niagara to a 105-91 win over Cleveland State. The U.S. Basketball Writers Association honored him with the 1979-80 Most Courageous Award. He died March 23, 1980, ending a 15-month fight against cancer.
