Men’s Basketball Wins Third Straight Game Following Victory over Manhattan on Friday Night

JERSEY CITY, NJ – The Saint Peter's men's basketball team made it three wins in a row on Friday night, following an imposing 70-53 victory over Manhattan. The Peacocks improve to 6-4 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC), remaining in a three-way tie for third-place in the conference standings.
 
How it Went Down

• In the early goings of the contest, Saint Peter's trailed Manhattan by a one possession margin, up until five and a half minutes in when Hassan Drame made a layup to put the team ahead 9-8.
• The Peacocks would never hand the lead back over from that point on in the game.
• Leading 14-12, Saint Peter's grabbed a nine-point lead by way of a 9-2 run over a 2:20 span. Doug Edert (3), Daryl Banks III (2), H. Drame (2), and Dallas Watson (2), all contributed to the run. 
• After giving up two-points to Manhattan and being up 23-16, the Peacocks erupted for the game's next 11 points over the next four minutes, propelling the lead to 18-points (34-16) with one minute to play in the half.
• At the start of the second half, Manhattan cut the Peacock lead to 11-points, the closest it would get for the rest of the night, but Saint Peter's answered the call again, going on a nine-point rally to expand its margin to 20-points over the Jaspers (43-23), led by back-to-back jumpers from Banks and a three-pointer from Matthew Lee. 
• Following the 20-point advantage, the score never got within 18, and when Aaron Estrada found KC Ndefo cutting baseline to the rim for a two-handed, uncontested dunk, the Peacocks lead increased to 26-points (57-31). 
• With under eight minutes to play in the game, Saint Peter's put the contest out of reach for Manhattan and cruised to the dominating victory.

 
Inside the Numbers

• The game marked the third straight win and fourth over the past five outings. Through the five-game stretch, Saint Peter's has led all five opponents over 32 minutes in each game after securing a 33:36 time with the lead over Manhattan.
• Besides rebounding, the Peacocks controlled the game, winning points off turnovers (17-15), points in the paint (26-24), second chance points (9-6), and bench points (43-16). 
• Saint Peter's connected on 24-of-28 free throws, the most made by the team in a conference game this season, and just one off of the season-high of 25 which was made against FDU on Dec. 11.
• The MAAC's top scoring defense again proved to be at its best, holding Manhattan to 35 percent shooting from the floor, 21 percent shooting from beyond the arc, and a MAAC season-low 53 points for the Jaspers. 
• The backcourt duo of Lee and Watson scored 10 points apiece, while Lee also dished out a team-leading two assists. Ndefo and Taylor each tacked on nine points, with Taylor accounting for three steals and Ndefo snagging one theft and swatting one shot. Banks and Cameron Jones followed up with eight points each and H. Drame added seven points with a team-best six rebounds. Majur Majak matched his career-high with four blocks.
• The victory improves the Peacocks home conference record to 4-1 and overall home record to 6-3 on the season, and guarantees the squad a winning record during the current four-game home stanza. 
• The six MAAC wins for head coach Shaheen Holloway matches his win total from his inaugural campaign last year.

 


Up Next          

• The Peacocks close out the current four-game home stand on Super Bowl Sunday against Siena.
• The Peacocks and Saints will tip at 4 p.m.