Box Score An 8-0 Saint Peter's run in the last two minutes of play erased a 12-point deficit and made it a four-point game, but the Peacocks were unable to get any closer and dropped a 61-54 decision to Fairfield this afternoon.
With the loss, Saint Peter's has now dropped eight consecutive match ups and fall to 6-14, 1-9 MAAC. Fairfield improves to 12-10, 4-6 MAAC.
Yvon Raymond led the Peacocks with a career-high 19 points, and added 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 block. The senior guard scored 14 of his total points in the second half alone to pace Saint Peter's in the come back.
Saint Peter's led for much of the first half, but a Stag run mid-way through the frame gave the visitors a lead the would maintain for the remainder of the contest. The Peacocks shot 47.6% in the first half, but finished just 11-32 from the floor in the second half (34.4%).
The Peacocks found themselves in an early 4-0 deficit to start off the contest, but managed to score six straight, led by 4 points from senior forward Darius Conley, to jump in front at 15:55 (6-4). Saint Peter's was able to extend their lead to as many as 6 (12-6), but the Stags formed a 7-2 spurt, capped by a three-ball from Derek Needham to cut the Peacocks' lead to 1 (14-13) at 9:29.
A layup by Maurice Barrow off the dish from Desmond Wade under a minute later gave the visitors a one-point edge (15-14). Saint Peter's would commit a turnover on the following possession that the Stags converted into a two-point opportunity (17-14), forcing Head Coach John Dunne to burn his second timeout in as many minutes.
Fairfield maintained at least a two-point lead until senior guard Yvon Raymond went 1-2 from the free throw line at 3:05 to make the score 21-20. The Stags proceeded to score back to back baskets however to establish a five-point advantage with 1:44 left in the half.
Two free throws by Markese Tucker made it a three point game, but the visitors drained a trey with 26 ticks remaining to open up their largest lead of the half (28-22). Tucker connected on a jumper assisted by Blaise Ffrench in the last 4 seconds to send the Peacocks into the half-time break trailing by four (28-24).
Both Markese Tucker and Darius Conley recorded 6 points in the stanza to lead the Peacocks. Saint Peter's shot 47.6% from the floor in the half, and did not attempt a three-point basket.
Fairfield was led by Derek Needham's 10 first half points. The Stags shot 41.9% from the floor and 15.4% from three-point range.
Both teams exchanged baskets to open up the second half, with Fairfield leading by as many as 7 points three minutes into the stanza. A conventional three-point play from Yvon Raymond at 16:08 brought the Peacocks within four (36-32); the closest the hosts had been since the half-time break.
Saint Peter's came within 4 once more, but the Stags formed an 11-4 run over the next seven minutes to establish their first double-digit advantage (49-38) of the contest with less then seven minutes remaining.
Fairfield established their largest lead of the game (12) at the 1:56 mark after Wade hit two free throws, but the Peacocks soon went on an 8-0 run (4 points from Raymond) to get within 4 at 1:25.
John Dunne's squad was able to force a Fairfield turnover on the following possession and had to the opportunity to make it a one-possession game with 51 seconds to play. Darius Conley would miss a floater in the lane with 28 seconds remaining, while the Stags went on to drain four straight free throws to regain an eight-point cushion.
Washington connected on a fifteen-foot jumper in the last ten seconds to the score 60-54 and account for the last Peacock points of the contest.
Overall, the Peacocks shot 39.6% from the floor, 25% from three and 71.4% from the line. Fairfield shot 40%, 21.7% and 75%, respectively.
Saint Peter's was out-rebounded by a 39-25 margin and committed 9 turnovers while forcing 12.
Darius Conley and Blaise Ffrench each contributed 8 points in the loss. Conley added a team-high 10 rebounds.
The Stags had four players in double figures; and were led by Derek Needham's 19 points.
Saint Peter's returns to action this Friday, as they host Marist at home for a 7pm tipoff.
