JERSEY CITY, NJ – Saint Peter's University men's basketball returned to Jersey City and picked right back up where the team left off, knocking off Manhattan College 59-55 on Friday night at John Moore Athletics Center on the campus of NJCU. The Peacocks conference record improved to 5-4 and the overall mark jumped to 8-6 on the season.
Matthew Lee paced the Peacocks with a game-high 15 points, followed by
Tarojae Brake (13) and
Fousseyni Drame (12).
The Basics
Score: Saint Peter's 59, Manhattan 54
Records: Saint Peter's (8-6, 5-4 MAAC) | Manhattan (5-5, 4-5 MAAC)
Location: John Moore Athletics Center | Jersey City, NJ
How It Happened
- Lee connected on consecutive triples and Brake added a deep ball for Saint Peter's to put the home side up 11-9.
- Manhattan regained the lead over the Peacocks but SPU would keep the deficit within a single possession throughout the half.
- SPU trailed by three (24-21) at halftime.
- After giving up the opening field goal of the half, Brake caught fire, outscoring both squads 10-0.
- Brake began his personal rally with a layup in the paint, before knocking down back-to-back trifectas and a floater in the paint to give Saint Peter's its final lead of the game that would never be relinquished (31-26).
- The run proceeded to 15-0 once Hassan Drame got into the action, putting down a transition slam dunk and hitting a three-pointer to extend the lead to 36-26.
- The Peacocks took their largest lead of the night (40-27) following four straight points by F. Drame coming by way of a mid-range jumper and a layup with 13:42 on the clock.
- By the under 12-minute media break, SPU was shooting 64 percent from the field and 75 percent from beyond the arc.
- The Jaspers put together a rally and cut the Peacocks' lead to a single possession (45-42) with just under eight to play.
- SPU stalled Manhattan's comeback attempt by scoring the game's next six points to go back up 51-42.
- The game looked wrapped up when Lee drained a three with 2:39 to play, putting the Peacocks up 56-45.
- Despite the late lead, Manhattan got the tilt back to one-point (56-55) with 17.8 seconds left, but F. Drame made three free throws down the final stretch to secure the 59-55 victory.
Notes
- Lee's 15 points matched his season-high and he handed out three assists to also lead Saint Peter's.
- Brakes' 13 points were a season-high and his best scoring output in a Peacock uniform and he also grabbed a season-best five rebounds.
- F. Drame surpassed double-figures for the first time in conference play and he and his twin brother Hassan along with KC Ndefo each pulled down seven rebounds.
- Ndefo continued his tear as the nation's best rim protector, adding six more blocks to his season total --- he now has 59 blocks on the season.
- Offensively, Saint Peter's shot 42.6 percent (20-47) from the floor and 47.1 percent from deep (8-17).
- The Peacocks dominated the boards, out rebounding the Jaspers 41-30.
- The Peacocks' extend their home record to 4-0 this season.
- Saint Peter's also improved its home winning streak to 12 straight wins and are 15-3 in Jersey City dating back to last season.
Up Next
The Peacocks and Manhattan College conclude the series tomorrow night at 8pm.
