Box Score JERSEY CITY, N.J. – Despite a furious second-half comeback attempt by Saint Peter's, Canisius defeated the Peacocks 67-63 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) men's basketball action on Saturday.
Marvin Dominique (Miramar, Fla./Miramar [Fordham]) paced Saint Peter's (4-9, 0-4 MAAC) with his seventh double-double of the season, tallying 26 points and 10 rebounds. Chris Burke (Willingboro, N.J./Willingboro) added 12 points off the bench.
Junior Desi Washington (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin [Delaware State]) recorded 14 points on the day, including his 1,000th career point. The junior hit a step-back jumper with 9:34 remaining in the game to reach the milestone after compiling 394 points at Delaware State as a freshman and now has 614 points in a Peacocks' uniform.
After trailing 45-22 with 19:14 left in the game, Saint Peter's went on a 36-12 run to make it a one-point game with 4:46 left. Dominique had a chance to tie the game, but missed the frontend of two charity tosses. Chris Manhertz answered for the Golden Griffins (9-5, 3-0 MAAC) with a layup and a traditional 3-point play to give Canisius a 62-56 lead with 1:49 remaining.
Dominique and Washington responded with consecutive baskets in the paint to make it a two-point game at 62-60 with 47 seconds left, but Zach Lewis hit a dagger 3-pointer from NBA range as the shot clock expired with 15 seconds left to give the Golden Griffins a 65-60 edge. Chris Perez hit two free throws with three ticks remaining before Washington drained a 3-pointer as time expired to set the final score.
Billy Baron paced Canisius with 25 points while Manhertz added 12 points and Perez chipped in 11 points in the winning effort.
The Golden Griffins used a strong first half to take a 21-point lead and held off a furious comeback attempt from the Peacocks to earn its third-straight win in the series.
Canisius scored the first 12 points of the game fueled by five points from Baron. Dominique put Saint Peter's on the scoreboard with a 3-pointer at the 14:07 mark in the first half.
The Golden Griffins then went on a 16-2 spurt to take a 28-5 lead midway through the first half. Baron had six points in the stretch. Canisius went into the locker room with a 43-22 advantage.
Baron scored in the lane to start the second half and reclaim a 23-point lead for the Golden Griffins at 19:14.
Saint Peter's responded with a 12-2 run to trim the margin to 47-34 with 14:49 on the clock thanks to eight points by Dominique.
With Canisius holding a 52-39 lead, the Peacocks rolled off 17 of the next 25 points to make it a one-point game with 4:46 to play.
Burke started the run with a 3-pointer at 13:18 and then Dominique recorded a traditional 3-point play at 12:42 to trim the margin to 52-45. After Lewis momentarily halted the run with a layup, Washington hit a jumper for his 1,000th point at 9:34 and Burke drained a 3-ball at 8:54 to cut the deficit to 54-50.
Baron responded with a layup at 8:09 and Manhertz hit the backend of two free throws at 6:23 to restore a seven-point margin at 57-50.
Burke came down and nailed his third trey of the game at 6:02 and Washington took a steal coast to coast for a layup at 5:04. Dominique then trimmed the margin to 57-56 after making the second of two charity tosses with 4:46 left, but Manhertz answered with a layup and Perez eventually hit a big 3-pointer to seal the win for the Golden Griffins.
Trevis Wyche (Neptune, N.J./Saint Peter's Prep) scored seven points for Saint Peter's to end his streak of three-straight 10-point performances. The freshman added a team-high seven assists along with three rebounds. Jamel Fields (Albany, N.Y./Cheshire Academy [Fairfield]) earned his first start in a Peacocks uniform.
Saint Peter's returns to action at Fairfield on Wednesday. Game time is 7 p.m.
