Games 14/15
Saint Peter's (7-6, 4-4 MAAC) vs. Manhattan (5-4, 4-4 MAAC)
Date: Friday-Saturday, Jan. 29-30
Time: 8 p.m.
Location: John Moore Athletics Center, Jersey City, NJ
WATCH ESPN: Friday (
ESPN+) / Saturday (
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LIVE STATS
GAME NOTES
Opening Tip
- The Saint Peter's University men's basketball team returns to Jersey City this weekend for the first time since Dec. 11-12, when the team plays host to Manhattan College on Friday (Jan. 29) and Saturday (Jan. 30) nights.
- Both meetings will be played on the campus of NJCU in the John Moore Athletics Center at 8pm.
- Saint Peter's holds a 4-4 MAAC record and 7-6 overall mark heading into the weekend.
- Following two consecutive postponed series due to COVID-19 related issues around the MAAC, the Peacocks returned to the hardwood after a 20-day hiatus last weekend when the team took on top-ranked Siena, splitting the pair of games.
- Saint Peter's took the series opener 68-62, snapping a five-game losing streak at Siena, but fell in the series finale 47-40.
- Junior KC Ndefo continued his outstanding campaign, leading the Peacocks over the two games in scoring, rebounding, assists, and blocks.
- Additionally, freshman guard Marty Silvera had his coming-out party in the set, posting career-highs in points and rebounds on Friday, and steals on Saturday.
- Manhattan brings 4-4 MAAC and 5-4 overall records into the meeting.
- The Jaspers last played on Jan. 15-16, sweeping Niagara before having last weekend's series against Monmouth postponed due to a positive COVID-19 test on the Monmouth program.
Things to Know Before the Series
Series History
- This weekend's meetings between Saint Peter's and Manhattan will be chapters 134 and 135 in the all-time series.
- Since the opening game between the two in 1922-23, the Peacocks trail 54-79, while being behind 39-52 with each team as MAAC members.
- Last season, Saint Peter's picked up its first season sweep over Manhattan since 2016-17.
- The Peacocks toppled the Jaspers 70-53 at home on Jan. 31 and then 67-64 on Feb. 21 on the road.
- Six of the last nine games in the series have been in favor of SPU.
- Although the Peacocks have controlled the overall series of late, in Jersey City the Peacocks are 4-6 against the Jaspers over the last decade.
- The men will be looking to sweep Manhattan in consecutive campaigns for the first time since 2015-16 and 2016-17.
Saints Sandwich
- Saint Peter's defeated Siena 68-62 on Jan. 22.
- The win ended a six-year, five-game losing streak that dated back to 2015, closing the books on the team's most recent longest league road drought.
- Not only did the victory give the Saints their first loss of the season, it also snapped Siena's program record 16-game winning streak that dated back to last season.
- Ironically, the last time Siena was defeated over the past two years was on Feb. 2, 2020 in Jersey City, falling to Saint Peter's --- making SPU the only team to knock off Siena in almost a full calendar year.
The Art of Shot Swatting
- KC Ndefo's tear on the defensive side of the ball continued at Siena (Jan.22-23).
- The nation's current leader in blocked shots rejected six shots in Friday's win, matching his career-high for the fifth time; then he followed that performance up by setting a new career standard with seven denies in Saturday's game.
- The seven blocks tied the program's single-game record, matching Todd Sowell '07 (Dec. 9, 2005 vs. Canisius).
- Furthermore, Ndefo accounted for a combined total of 13 blocks between the two meetings.
- The 13 stops were more blocked shots than four out of the five other MAAC teams also in action over the weekend, with Marist being the only team to out block Ndefo with 14 swats as a team.
Next Up
- The Peacocks will remain in Jersey City next week for a set against Fairfield University.
- Saint Peter's and Fairfield will meet on Sunday, Feb. 7 at 8pm and Monday, Feb. 8 at 8:30pm.
