JERSEY CITY, N.J. – The Saint Peter's University men's basketball team used a torrid start to the second half to power its way past visiting New Jersey City University, 90-66, on Monday night at Run Baby Run Arena.
Three Peacocks registered double-digit figures in scoring as part of a balanced showing up and down the lineup, as every Saint Peter's student-athlete appeared in the contest. The Peacocks, as a whole, shot over 50 percent on the day and dominated the battle in the paint while forcing 20 turnovers.
And while the main event played out on the parquet, members of arguably the team's most memorable season, the famed 1967-68 Saint Peter's squad that that captured the heart of the city with its upset win over Duke in the NIT Tournament – and for whom the court is named after – were in attendance for a special halftime recognition ceremony.
Both teams went back-and-forth over the majority of the first half, with NJCU holding its largest lead at 21-17 at the midpoint of the period before Saint Peter's pulled ahead by four (34-30) with just over five minutes left and then took a three-point edge (43-30) into the locker room.
Less than three minutes into the second half, the Peacocks built their lead into double digits and never saw it shrink less than 10 points from there on out after shooting over 55 percent (15-27) over the final 20 minutes.
Top Peacock Performers
- Junior Matthew Lee led the way averaging a point per minute, finishing with a team-high 15 on 4-of-5 shooting – including two triples – in 15 minutes.
- Rookie Jaylen Murray was the only Peacock who logged more than 20 minutes on the night (21) and impressed with 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting while contributing two setals and a block.
- In his first game playing in his hometown of Jersey City, senior Isiah Dasher went 2-for-2 from downtown and 4-of-5 overall for 12 points while adding two steals, four boards and a dime n 19 solid minutes.
- Preseason MAAC Player of the Year KC Ndefo had nine points, a block and a steal while shooting 4-of-5 from the floor.
Tale of the Tape
- Saint Peter's would shoot at just over 50 percent on the night (29-57) while recording a 5-of-16 mark (31.3%) from downtown; the Peacocks went 27-of-39 (69.2%) at the stripe.
- The hosts dominated down low, outgaining the Gothic Knights on the boards (43-30), including 11 offensive rebounds. Saint Peter's also finished with a 48-14 edge in points in the paint
- The Peacocks' bench contributed 53 points on Monday, while Saint Peter's registered 28 points off of 20 NJCU turnovers.
Up Next
Saint Peter's will open the regular season in earnest when it heads to perennial Atlantic 10 contender VCU next Tuesday (Nov. 9) for a 7 p.m. showdown in Richmond.
