Men’s Basketball Drops Road Contest at Niagara Thursday Night

NIAGARA UNIV., NY – The Saint Peter's men's basketball team's five-game winning streak came to an end on Thursday night after a 63-54 road defeat at Niagara. The Peacocks Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) record drops to 12-6 with a pair of games remaining in the regular season.
 
How it Happened

• For the third consecutive game, Saint Peter's trailed by the exact same score (8-2) at the first media break.
• Out of the timeout, the Peacocks got right back into the contest, using a quick 6-0 run.
• The run began with a forced five second violation on the Niagara inbounds, followed by a layup from Cameron Jones. 
• On the ensuing possession, the Peacocks forced a bad pass turnover which then led to a pair of made free throws by KC Ndefo, cutting the game to 8-6. 
• Again, Saint Peter's caused another turnover, this time Doug Edert stole a pass and found Dallas Watson for a fast break layup that tied the game up.
• The Peacocks first lead of the game came late in the half when Watson found Aaron Estrada in transition for a triple that would give the visiting squad a 24-22 lead. 
• By halftime, the game was knotted at 26-26.
• Quinn Taylor secured an offensive rebound and scored the first points of the second half with a putback layup, to give Saint Peter's what would end up being its final lead of the game.
• Down 34-33 after Estrada hit a jumper, the Peacocks would allow Niagara to go on an 8-0 run, extending the deficit (42-33).
• Saint Peter's remained behind in the meeting, cutting the deficit to five points twice, before putting together six straight points which made it a one-possession game (56-54). 
• The six points came from Daryl Banks III fourth three-pointer of the night, followed by a block from Ndefo which led to a fast break layup, foul, and completed three-point play by Taylor with 3:17 remaining.
• Although the Peacocks had ample time after making the game a single possession, the bad offensive night would continue, with the team going 0-for-4 and giving up three turnovers, while failing to score another point the final three minutes.

 
Inside the Numbers

• Banks led the Peacocks with a team-high 14 points, matching his career-high with four trifectas. 
• Estrada was the other Peacock in double-figures, scoring 10 points and equaling his career-best of five rebounds.
• Ndefo chipped in with eight points and a pair of rebounds, assists, and blocks.
• Saint Peter's had in-game advantages in rebounds (36-31), points in the paint (28-22), second chance points (9-4), and fast break points (9-5), while both squads equally got 18 points from the bench.
• With the defeat, the Peacocks moved a half of game behind Siena in the MAAC regular season title race.

 
Up Next          

• Saint Peter's will remain in Western New York, visiting Canisius on Saturday, Feb. 29 in the final road contest of the season.
• The Peacocks will then return to New Jersey for the regular-season finale against Iona (Mar. 6) before heading to Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City for the 2020 MAAC Championship.