Box Score JERSEY CITY, N.J. – Desi Washington (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin [Delaware State]) hit the game-winning basket with 2.1 seconds left, capping a 12-2 run over the final three minutes and 32 seconds to lift Saint Peter's past Fairfield 62-61 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) men's basketball action on Tuesday. It was the junior's third decisive 3-pointer in the last 3.3 seconds of a contest, including nailing a trey at the buzzer at Webster Bank Arena to power the Peacocks past the Stags 56-55 on Jan. 8.
After Marcus Gilbert hit a jumper to give Fairfield a 60-51 lead with 3:32 left in the contest, Saint Peter's started to mount its comeback. Jamel Fields (Albany, N.Y./Cheshire Academy [Fairfield]) made 1 of 2 at the line at 3:24 before Chris Burke (Willingboro, N.J./Willingboro) converted two charity tosses at 2:40 and Fields scored in the lane 24 seconds later. Washington then made it a two-point game with 1:45 left by connecting on two charity tosses.
Amadou Sidibe momentarily halted the Peacocks run with two free throws 45 seconds left before Quadir Welton (Philadelphia, Pa./Math, Civics and Science Charter) scored in the lane 13 seconds later to once again make it a two-point margin. The Stags then missed both free throws and Washington came down with the rebound with 20 seconds remaining to set up the dramatic finish. Saint Peter's raced the ball down the court and then got the ball back to Washington, who drained a 3-pointer near the top of the key with 2.1 seconds left. Fairfield inbounded the ball and missed its desperation heave and Peacocks faithful had déjà vu all over again with Washington hitting the heroic shot, but for the first time at the Yanitelli Center.
Washington paced Saint Peter's (12-16, 8-11 MAAC) with 16 points. Marvin Dominique (Miramar, Fla./Miramar [Fordham]) tallied 12 points and 10 rebounds while Fields posted 12 points in the winning effort.
Sidibe fueled the Stags (6-24, 3-16 MAAC) with 18 points and 14 rebounds while Maurice Barrow added 15 points in the loss.
Saint Peter's grabbed the lead midway through the first half before Fairfield took the lead in the second half only to see Washington break the Stags heart for the second time this season in the waning seconds of a game with a 3-pointer dagger.
Fairfield opened the game with a 12-7 run in the first five minutes and 35 seconds thanks to six points from Sidibe. The Peacocks tied the game only to see the Stags retake a five-point lead at 21-16 after a Justin Jenkins 3-pointer and a Barrow layup with 8:33 left.
Saint Peter's responded with an 18-5 run to grab a 34-25 lead with 31 seconds left in the half. Washington powered the run with seven points while Fields added five points. The two teams then traded 1 of 2 at the line to give the Peacocks a 35-26 advantage going into the locker room.
Saint Peter's extended its lead to 11 points in the second half after a Dominique jumper with 18:47 remaining.
The Stags then answered with a 28-7 run to grab a 56-46 advantage with 5:10 on the clock. KJ Rose posted six of his nine points during this stretch to pace Fairfield.
The game then hovered around a seven to nine point game for the next two minutes before the Peacocks ended the game on a 12-2 run to set up the Washington magic for the third time this season thanks to his trey with 2.1 seconds left to help Saint Peter's sweep the season series for the first time since the 2004-05 season. The win was also the squad's first at home against Fairfield under head coach John Dunne in eight tries.
Along with hitting the game-winning shot in both games against Fairfield, Washington hit the decisive trey with 3.3 seconds left against Seton Hall on Dec. 14. It was the fifth time a game has been decided in the final five seconds of a game this year for Saint Peter's and the squad is 3-2 in those contests. Prior to tonight's dramatic finish, the previous four contests occurred on the road.
The Peacocks now have won three-straight games for the second time this season and have won their last four at the Yanitelli Center. It marks the first time since 2010-11 the team has won four-straight home games when that squad won its first eight games at the Yanitelli Center that season.
Welton and Burke each added seven points in the win.
Saint Peter's, who can finish as high as the No. 6 seed and as low as the No. 8 seed in the upcoming MAAC Tournament, will wrap up the regular season at home against Niagara on Sunday. Game time is 2 p.m. Prior to the contest, the Peacocks will honor Burke, the team's lone senior.
