Games 12/13
Saint Peter's (6-5, 3-3 MAAC) vs. Siena (6-0, 6-0 MAAC)
Date: Friday-Saturday, Jan. 22-23
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Alumni Recreation Center, Loudonville, NY
WATCH ESPN: Friday (
ESPNU) / Saturday (
ESPN3)
LIVE STATS
GAME NOTES
Opening Tip
- Following two consecutive postponed series due to COVID-19 related issues around the MAAC, the Saint Peter's men's basketball team returns to the hardwood after a 20-day hiatus when the team visits Siena College for a weekend series.
- The series will be played on Friday (Jan. 22) and Saturday (Jan. 23) at 7pm in Alumni Recreation Center in Loudonville, NY.
- Friday night's game will air nationally on ESPNU after being flexed to the network as part of the MAAC/ESPN Wildcard Game package.
- The Peacocks, who concluded one of the program's most successful calendar years in its history during 2020, dropped both opening contests of 2021, leading to a 3-3 MAAC mark and 6-5 overall record.
- During the opening weekend of the new year, Saint Peter's fell in both games of its series in Buffalo, suffering defeats of 70-58 and 63-60 to Canisius.
- Junior KC Ndefo was a force for the team at Canisius, leading the Peacocks in scoring (16.0 ppg), rebounding (6.5 rpg), and blocked shots (4.5 bpg).
- The sophomore combination of Daryl Banks III and Doug Edert joined Ndefo as the only Peacocks in double-figure scoring both games against the Griffs.
- Siena, which did not play its first game the season until Jan. 3, is the league's only unbeaten team at 6-0.
- In the timeframe that Siena has played all six of its games this season, Saint Peter's inversely has not played a single contest --- having last touched the court on Jan. 2.
Things to Know Before the Series
Series History
- The series between Saint Peter's and Siena will see the 95th and 96th all-time meetings when the teams squareoff this weekend.
- Since the inaugural game between the sides during the 1950-51 campaign, the Peacocks lead the Saints 51-43.
- Last season, the teams split the series, each winning at home.
- Siena won the on Jan. 9, in Albany, NY, handing Saint Peter's its first conference defeat of the season by way of a 61-58 win.
- Saint Peter's won the rematch in Jersey City, claiming an 85-80 victory on Feb. 2.
- The duo have been evenly matched since 2015-16, having split each season series over the past five seasons.
- The home side controlled the series last decade, with Saint Peter's posting a perfect 10-0 record in Jersey City and Siena recording a 7-3 advantage in Albany.
- The Peacocks have not been victorious at Siena since Jan. 25, 2015.
Ending the Hiatus
- When Saint Peter's takes the floor on Friday (Jan. 22), it will have been exactly 20 days since the team last played in a game (Jan. 2) stemming from back to back postponed series due to positive COVID tests from other MAAC institutions.
- The 20-day layoff for the Peacocks between MAAC games is the longest period between conference games without playing a single game in the league's 40 year existence.
- Moreover, the timespan is also the longest period between two games in the same season since the program joined the NCAA in 1964-65.
The Best of the Best
- Following the opening week of 2021, reigning MAAC Defensive Player of the Year KC Ndefo, led the NCAA in total blocks (40) and blocked shots per game (3.6 bpg).
- Despite having not played since Jan. 2, Ndefo entered this week still holding down the nation's top spot in blocked shots per game, while dropping to sixth in total blocks.
- Additionally, Ndefo is on pace to break the single-season school marks in total blocked shots and blocked shots per game this season, while also being on pace to surpass 200 career blocked shots and become the program's all-time leader in career blocks as a junior.
Next Up
- The Peacocks will return to Jersey City next weekend following a one-month gap, when the team plays host to Manhattan College on Friday (Jan. 29) and Saturday (Jan. 30) night.
