JERSEY CITY, NJ – The Saint Peter's men's basketball team never trailed in a wire-to-wire victory over Niagara University on Sunday afternoon. The Peacocks earned a 58-53 win, improving their Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) record to 4-4 on the season. Saint Peter's freshman duo of
Matthew Lee and
Hassan Drame each scored in double-figures to lead the team to the win.
How it Happened
- Lee single handedly sparked an 8-1 run for Saint Peter's to start the game. The freshman starting guard hit a three to start the game, then fed Majur Majak for a two-handed dunk and then Quinn Taylor for a corner three to put the Peacocks ahead.
- Niagara got its closest in the game when they tied up the contest at 9-9, but Saint Peter's scored the game's next five points to go back up, 14-9.
- The Peacocks held a 21-16 lead at the under eight-minute media break.
- Following the timeout, H. Drame forced a steal and Aaron Estrada fed KC Ndefo for a fast break dunk, extending the lead to 23-16.
- On the ensuing possession, H. Drame drained a three-pointer to give Saint Peter's its first double-figure lead of the afternoon.
- The Peacocks would take a 33-22 lead into the locker room.
- Saint Peter's propelled its lead to 12-points (39-27) after Lee found Taylor cutting to the basket for a two-handed slam --- Saint Peter's largest lead of the game.
- The Peacocks lead remained above the 10-point threshold for the game's next seven minutes and after the Purple Eagles cut the Peacock lead to seven, Saint Peter's was able to extend the lead back to 10 points with 5:28 left.
- With 3:14 to play, Niagara put together an 8-2 run that would make it a four-point game.
- Late in the meeting, both Daryl Banks III and Lee hit a pair of huge triples that gave the Peacocks a seven-point edge with under one minute to go.
- Saint Peter's defense, led by a blocked shot from Ndefo, and a perfect 4-for-4 showing at the free throw line by H. Drame and Lee would help put the game away.
Inside the Numbers
- Lee scored a game-high 13 points and handed out a team-leading five assists, while H. Drame scored 10 points and grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds.
- Lee went 3-for-4 from behind the arc, only missing one triple for the second straight game --- Lee is now 7-for-9 over the past two games from three-point land.
- The double-double for H. Drame was the freshman's second in the last three games and his third overall on the season --- the three double-doubles are tied for the sixth most amongst MAAC players this season.
- Ndefo and Taylor followed with nine points each, while Ndefo was the team leader in the game with three steals and two blocks.
- In the wire-to-wire win, Saint Peter's held the lead for over 38 minutes.
- The Peacocks outrebounded the Purple Eagles 40-24 in the victory as well.
Up Next
- The Peacocks remain home next week with three games in five days.
- The jam-packed home week will feature contests against Monmouth (Jan. 29), Manhattan (Jan. 31), and Siena (Feb. 2).
