Box Score NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – Marvin Dominique (Miramar, Fla./Miramar) fueled a Saint Peter's second-half rally for the second-straight game by scoring 21 of his season-high 27 points in the final stanza to lift the Peacocks past Niagara 77-65 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) men's basketball action on Friday.
Dominique did not miss a shot until 1:08 left in the game and that attempt came from the foul line. The senior finished the game 9-for-9 from the floor and 9 of 10 from the free throw line to end with a season-best 27 points after scoring 26 points in a 65-57 come-from-behind victory against Siena on Monday.
Desi Washington (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) and Quadir Welton (Philadelphia, Pa./Math, Civics and Science Charter) each added 12 points while Tyler Gaskins (Roswell, Ga./Centennial) chipped in 10 points. For the second-straight game Saint Peter's (13-13, 7-8 MAAC) had a huge second half by scoring a season-best 50 points in the final stanza after registering 48 points in the second half on Monday.
Dominique Reid paced the Purple Eagles (4-20, 3-12 MAAC) with 18 points while Wesley Myers posted 11 points and Emile Blackman chipped in 10 points in the loss.
Friday's game at Niagara had a similar feel to the contest against Siena on Monday. Saint Peter's went into the locker room trailing by double digits, but used a strong second half to rally for the victory to earn its third-straight win and end a three-game losing streak at Gallagher Center.
Trailing 45-33 in the second half, the Peacocks went on a 16-4 run to tie the game at 49. Dominique powered the run with 10 points while Welton knotted the game at 49 on a layup with 10:26 left in the game.
With the game tied at 51, Saint Peter's used an 18-8 run to take a 10-point lead. Gaskins gave the Peacocks the lead for good on a trey with 8:42 left. The Purple Eagles then scored four of the next six points to make it a one-point margin twice.
Saint Peter's then went on a 13-4 run to take its first double-digit lead at 69-59. Gaskins, Dominique and Welton each scored in the paint while the squad went 5 of 6 from the line to take the 10-point margin with 3:51 left.
Niagara scored the next three points on a free throw from Rayvon Snowden and layup by Myers to trim the margin to 69-67 with 3:03 on the clock.
Wyche and Dominique then closed the game by hitting 6 of 8 from the foul line to seal the victory.
With the game tied at 3 in the first half, Niagara used a 15-4 run to grab an 18-7 advantage with six minutes left in the first half.
Matt Scott started the spurt with a trey at 18:10 before Reid scored the next four points on two free throws at 17:17 and a layup at 16:53 for a 10-3 advantage.
After Welton scored in the lane at 16:23, Blackman nailed a trey at 16:04. Washington answered with a jumper at 15:32, but Reid drained a jumper at 15:06 and Blackman hit a triple at 14:01 for an 18-7 advantage.
The Purple Eagles then maintained at least a nine-point lead for the next eight minutes before the Peacocks went on a 7-0 run to trim a 28-16 deficit to 28-23 with 4:12 remaining.
Dominique started the run with two free throws at 5:47 and then the senior scored in the paint at the five-minute mark before Gaskins drained a trey at 4:12 to make it a five-point margin.
Niagara then closed the half on an 11-4 run to stretch its lead back to double figures at 39-27 going into the locker room.
Saint Peter's then nearly doubled up the Purple Eagles in the second half, outscoring the hosts 50-26 to earn the win.
Wyche finished with seven points, eight assists and three steals.
It marked the third time the Peacocks have played on Friday the 13th since the inception of the league in 1980-81. The squad is now 2-1 on the superstitious day.
Saint Peter's concludes its two-game upstate New York road trip at Canisius on Sunday. Game time is 2 p.m.
