Canisius Basketball Player Dies After Collapsing During Game

Jeff Taggart, a junior basketball player for Canisius who would have turned 21 Tuesday, died Saturday night after collapsing during a game against Niagara.

Taggart, a 6-foot 3-inch, 194-pound guard, was sitting on the bench when he went into convulsions with 10 minutes remaining in the first half. He had started the game and played eight minutes without scoring.

The game was stopped for 10 minutes as paramedics in Buffalo Memorial Auditorium and physicians from both teams tried unsuccessfully to revive Taggart in the arena’s infirmary. He was taken by ambulance to Sheehan Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead upon arrival. No cause of death was available.

Taggart had a sporadic heartbeat and a light pulse after going into convulsions but never regained consciousness.

The game was resumed after Taggart was taken from the building. Niagara won, 70-61.