Quartet of Rookies Lead Men’s Basketball to Win over LIU Sunday at Barclays Center

BROOKLYN, NY – The Saint Peter's men's basketball team never trailed in the second half, leading to a convincing 69-58 win over LIU on Sunday afternoon at the Barclays Center. The freshman quartet of Hassan Drame, Matthew Lee, Daryl Banks III and Doug Edert led the Peacocks' offensive attack in the win.
 
How Things Happened

• Trailing 9-3, H. Drame went on a nine point scoring tear for the Peacocks, connecting on four straight layups and a free throw to pull the Peacocks to a 15-12 deficit.
• Banks would be the next player to take over the offense, scoring Saint Peter's next six points, behind two jumpers and a layup.
• Still down on the scoreboard, Edert got in on the action with back-to-back three-pointers, putting the Peacocks behind by one point again. 
• Moments before the half, H. Drame collected an offensive rebound and made the go-ahead layup, that would give Saint Peter's a 33-32 lead at the break --- the Peacocks' first lead of the game and the final lead change on the afternoon.
• The Peacocks would never relinquish the lead in the second half, extending the advantage to double digits following a layup by Derrick Woods (49-39 lead).
• Saint Peter's controlled the game and kept LIU behind by no less than nine points until the 7:32 mark when the lead dwindled to 58-52. 
• From that point on, Lee got the green light and successfully carried the Peacocks to the victory by scoring Saint Peter's final 11 points. 
• The 11-point frenzy by Lee started with consecutive tough layups at the rim.
• Then, Lee stretched the floor out, hitting a trifecta off a pass from Banks.
• The true freshman secured the victory for the Peacocks with four free throws late in the game.

 
Inside the Numbers

• Both H. Drame and Lee scored team-highs of 13 points, while Banks and Edert each added nine points, giving the four a combined total of 44 points on the day.
• Additionally, H. Drame had career-highs with 17 rebounds, three steals, and two blocks; notching his first career double-double. The 17 rebounds were the most in a road contest by a Peacocks player since Marvin Dominique in 2013 when he recorded 16 rebounds at Niagara that season.
• Quinn Taylor and KC Ndefo pitched in with seven points apiece, with Ndefo blocking six shots in the win.
• The front court was owned by Saint Peter's in the contest, dominating the rebounding battle, 49-28 and scoring over 60 percent of its points in the paint (42 total points).

 
Coach's Quotes - Shaheen Holloway 

On Hassan Drame's career game...

• "I thought he came out with a lot of energy. He practiced like that the last two days and I tell theses guys, the way you practice is the way you play. He hit the offensive glass, something that we have been pounding the whole year, and I thought he did that." 

 
On Matthew Lee's play...

• "He is getting confidence. He is playing well. I got a two-headed monster with him and Aaron [Estrada], but Aaron got hurt so Matt came out there and played well coming back from an ankle injury." 

 
On outrebounding LIU by over 20 rebounds...

• "Well you know what, that is something that we have been doing the whole year. That is something we talk about and practice all the time. I was very proud of these guys. Hassan [Drame] had a double-double by halftime, KC [Ndefo] came out and gave us great energy, Quinn [Taylor] had great energy, so it was a good team win."

 
On feelings heading into MAAC play in January...

• "Well I just wanted to get a good road win. This was a good road win. LIU had a big time win the other day against Delaware. So I knew this was going to be a tough game. Last year they really gave it to us at home and we wanted to just start playing well because we also have a big road game coming up against Hampton."

 
Up Next          

• The men will make their longest road trip of the non conference ledger on Saturday, Dec. 28, when they head south to Virginia to face Hampton.