Box Score NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – Niagara closed the game on a 21-4 run to rally past Saint Peter's 61-56 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) men's basketball action on Sunday.
Marvin Jordan tied the game at 56 and then after a Peacocks turnover, Antoine Mason nailed a 3-pointer wit 22 seconds left to the Purple Eagles the lead for the first time. Desi Washington (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin [Delaware State]) missed a 3-pointer with the chance to tie with 11 seconds and after an offensive rebound Tyler Gaskins (Roswell, Ga./Centennial [Lawson State CC]) had a 3-pointer from the corner rim out with seven seconds left. Saint Peter's had the ball one more time down three, but a turnover and two Mason free throws sealed the win for Niagara.
Washington paced the Peacocks (2-6, 0-2 MAAC) with 16 points. Marvin Dominique (Miramar, Fla./Miramar [Fordham]) notched his fourth double-double of the season with 10 points and a career-best 16 rebounds in the loss.
Mason paced the Purple Eagles (2-8, 1-1 MAAC) with 35 points and Rayvon Harris tallied 10 points and eight rebounds in the winning effort.
Saint Peter's held the lead for the entire game until Niagara rallied and took the lead and held on for its fifth-straight win against the Peacocks.
In the second half, Saint Peter's held between a six to 12-point lead for the first 14 minutes of the stanza before the Purple Eagles started to mount their comeback.
After Washington scored in the paint at 5:14 to hand Saint Peter's a 52-40 lead, Niagara went on a 16-4 run to tie the game at 56 with 1:50 on the clock. Harris fueled the run with five points before Jordan nailed the crucial 3-ball with 1:50 on the clock. Mason then gave Niagara the lead it would not relinquish on his third basket from behind the arc in the waning minute of the game.
In the first half with the score tied at 7, Saint Peter's went on a 14-1 run to grab a 21-8 lead.
Washington started the spurt with a 3-pointer at 11:23. After Ramone Snowden hit 1 of 2 at the line for Niagara, the Peacocks scored the next 11 points over the next five minutes.
Dominique made two free throws at 7:55 before Trevis Wyche (Neptune, N.J./Saint Peter's Prep) made the frontend of two free throws at 5:36. Washington then dialed downtown at 4:56 and 4:22 to give Saint Peter's a double-digit advantage. Gaskins capped the run with a layup at 3:42 for a 21-8 advantage.
Mason then went on a 7-0 run all by himself thanks to a traditional 3-point play at 3:18 and layups at 2:08 and with 55 seconds left to trim the margin to 21-15, but Dominique scored in the lane as the clock expired to give the Peacocks a 23-15 lead going into the locker room.
Saint Peter's extended its lead to double figures five times in the second half. The Purple Eagles trimmed the margin to four points with 10:10 on the clock before the Peacocks answered with an 11-3 run to grab its largest lead at 50-38. The squad was 6 of 8 from the free throw line in the run and also saw a 3-pointer by Gaskins and the layup from Washington in the spurt. After Washington's basket in the paint, Niagara took over and earned its first conference win of the season.
Wyche finished with eight points, four rebounds, four assists and steals while Quadir Welton (Philadelphia, Pa./Math, Civics And Science Charter) tallied eight points and nine rebounds.
Saint Peter's returns to action on Saturday against Seton Hall at the Prudential Center. Game time is 12 p.m. and will also be broadcasted on Fox Sports One.
