COLLEGE PARK, MD – After wins in consecutive games, the Saint Peter's University men's basketball team's attempt at its third straight victory was halted by the University of Maryland on Friday afternoon at the XFINITY Center in College Park, Maryland. The Peacocks dropped the non-conference bout 90-57, a contest that was accepted on short notice just two days ago following the cancellation of Maryland's game with its original opponent George Mason due to a positive COVID-19 test from a Mason player.
Sophomore guard
Daryl Banks III was the lone Peacock to score in double-figures, recording a team-high 11 points to go along with two boards, one assist and one steal.
The Basics
Score: Saint Peter's 57, Maryland 90
Records: Saint Peter's (2-2) | Maryland (4-0)
Location: XFINITY Center | College Park, MD
How It Happened
- Saint Peter's forced a turnover on the team's first defensive possession of the afternoon, resulting in a made putback layup by Fousseyni Drame on the offensive end to give the Peacocks a 2-0 lead.
- The lead would be short-lived for the visiting Peacocks as the Terps rode a 21-4 run over the game's next 6:46, with Maryland scoring 14 straight points after falling behind 2-0, to go up 21-6 over Saint Peter's.
- The Peacocks pulled back to 10-points (21-11) following a triple from Tarojae Brakes and a steal, fastbreak combination by Noah Kamba.
- After Maryland extended its lead to 16, F. Drame drained a three-pointer from the near corner, to make it a 27-14 battle with 8:15 remaining in the opening stanza.
- F. Drame's bucket would be the last made field goal for the Peacocks until Dallas Watson connected on a jumper just inside the 3-point arc at the 3:05 mark of the half - over 5 minutes between made field goals - putting the score at 38-18 in favor of the home team.
- Saint Peter's added a pair of scores (a triple from Marty Silvera and a midrange jumper by Banks), taking a 42-23 deficit into the break.
- The Peacocks struggled to find their flow offensively in the half, going both 30 percent from the field (9-30) and from long range (3-10) while also giving away the ball 10 times; inversely, the Terps shot 65 percent from the floor and 44 percent from three in the opening 20 minutes.
- Saint Peter's was primed to end its shooting woes in the early portion of the second half, starting things off with 3-of-5 and then 5-of-8 made field goals (2-of-3 3pt) before the first media timeout. Unfortunately, Maryland didn't slow its offense drive down either, holding an 18-point advantage (54-36) by the first break.
- The Peacocks roaring offensive start to the half slowly evaporated as the team found themselves in a 20-point hole.
- The visiting side would not go away quietly though, pulling back within 20 (69-51) when Banks put down a layup - his 11th point of the game - with just over six minutes of action to play.
- Saint Peter's never got any closer in the meeting and Maryland closed out the afternoon on a 21-6 run, claiming the 90-57 victory over Saint Peter's.
Notes
- Banks surpassed 10 points for the third time in four games this season with his 11 points in 30 minutes of action.
- F. Drame and KC Ndefo each scored nine points to follow, with the former grabbing a team-best six rebounds and the latter leading the way defensively with three steals and a pair of blocks.
- Watson added six points and three dimes while Silvera matched his career mark of five points.
- Additionally, all 11 Peacocks on the roster scored at least two points - the first time this feat has been achieved in an outing this season.
- On the defensive side of the ball, Saint Peter's forced Maryland into a season-high 16 turnovers and held the Terps under their season average in both field goal percentage (52%) and three-point field goal percentage (39%).
- Offensively, Friday's tilt wasn't the best day at the office for the team, as Saint Peter's posted season-lows in points (57), made field goals (20), field goal percentage (32.3%), free throw percentage (47.4%), and assists (11).
- Saint Peter's drops to 0-2 on the road this season and 2-2 overall.
Up Next
Saint Peter's is next scheduled to open its MAAC slate against Niagara in its first weekend home series of the year on Friday, Dec. 11. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m.
