NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, NY – The Saint Peter's College Peacocks (3-14, 2-4 MAAC) did not score for the first 5:35 of the first half, trailed 10-0 and could not recover in a 85-73 loss to the Niagara University Purple Eagles (7-11, 2-4 MAAC). The Peacocks did cut the deficit to nine points in the second half, but could get no closer, suffering their second straight conference defeat. Chris Prescott led the Peacocks 22 points.
Niagara jumped out to a quick 10-0 lead and held Saint Peter's scoreless for the first 5:35 of the half. A three-pointer by Lamin Fulton got the Peacocks on the board. Saint Peter's stayed close, but the Purple Eagles extended their advantage to 12 points at 26-14. The Peacock then scored five straight to cut the deficit to 26-19, but a 7-2 Niagara run gave them their largest lead at 13 points, 33-20 with 5:07 to play. The Peacocks once again got to within seven at 35-28, but a 10-3 Purple Eagle run to end the half gave Niagara a 45-31 lead at the break.
Chris Prescott and Markese Tucker each scored 10 points to lead Saint Peter's. Antoine Mason scored 15 to lead Niagara. Saint Peter's shot just 32% from the field, while Niagara shot 45.5% in the first half. The Peacocks outrebounded Niagara 22-19, but committed 11 turnovers, which led to 22 Purple Eagle points in the first half.
Saint Peter's came out and immediately cut the deficit to 12 points and then the teams traded baskets for the next five plus minutes. The Peacocks then cut the Niagara advantage down to nine points at 57-48 with 12:44 to play, but the Purple Eagles scored six of the next seven points to extend their lead back up to 16-points at 65-49. Niagara then slowly pulled further away and led by as many as 21 points at the 4:09 mark, 81-60. The Peacocks fought to end and lost by the 12-point margin.
Prescott was 6-15 from the field, including 5-10 from beyond the arc. Fulton scored 17 points, while Tucker added 12. Juan'Ya Green finished with 20 points, while Mason scored 19. The Peacocks shot 40% from the field, but Niagara shot over 48%. The Peacocks outrebounded the Purple Eagles 40 -31, but committed 19 turnovers. Niagara scored 28 points off of the Saint Peter's turnovers.
Saint Peter's wraps-up their Western New York road trip on Sunday afternoon as they take on Canisius at 2pm in Buffalo.
