JERSEY CITY, NJ – The Saint Peter's College Peacocks (3-12, 2-2 MAAC) used a 19-4 second half run that included eight points from Lamin Fulton to open up a 15 point and held off a furious run by the Griffs in a 65-61 win over the Canisius College Golden Griffins (3-11, 0-4 MAAC). The Peacocks ended an eight game losing streak, their longest since the 07-08 season with the win. Fulton led Saint Peter's with 14 points.
The two teams started slowly offensively, but they both traded 7-2 runs and the score was tied at nine with 9:40 to play in the first half. Canisus then scored four straight, followed by five straight by the Peacocks, giving Saint Peter's their first lead, 14-13 at the 7:46 mark. The Peacocks then led 16-15, but an 8-2 run by the Griffs gave Canisius a five-point cushion, 23-18 with 2:41 to play in the half. Saint Peter's then trailed 25-20, but finished the half on a 7-0 run to take a 27-25 lead into the break.
Chris Prescott for the Peacocks and Gaby Belardo for the Griffs led all scorers with 10 points each. Canisius shot 37% from the field and the Peacocks shot 35.5%. The Griffs outrebounded the Peacocks 21-16, but committed 10 turnovers to the Peacocks six.
The second half even slower than the first, but Saint Peter's scored the first three points of the second frame to take a five point lead at 30-25 with 16:28 to play. Saint Peter's then led 30-28, but scored the next four points to take their largest lead at 34-28. Canisius responded with six in a row to tie the game at 34 with 13:14 to play. Saint Peter's then went on a 19-4 run that took more than seven minutes of the clock and gave the Peacocks a 53-38 lead at the 6:05 mark. Lamin Fulton scored eight points during the run.
Canisius would not go quietly as they used the next six minutes to draw to within one point at 62-61 with 25.1-seconds remaining. Brandon Hall knocked down a pair of free throws with 16.1 to play and the Peacocks got one final stop to hold on for the four-point victory.
Fulton was 4-12 with two rebounds and four assists. Prescott added 12 points, while Chris Burke scored nine points and grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds. Saint Peter's shot nearly 43% from the field and held the Griffs to under 38%. The Peacocks won the board battle 39-38 and each team committed 17 turnovers.
The Peacocks will return to action on Sunday afternoon as they host the Rider Broncs at 2pm at the Yanitelli Center.
