PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Nov. 27, 2021) - Junior men's basketball student-athlete Daryl Banks III produced a career-high 26 points to lead the Saint Peter's University basketball team to a second half lead over Providence College Saturday but it was not enough as the Peacocks fell 85-71 at Dunkin' Donuts Center.
Banks III, who bested his previous career best of 25 set on Jan. 3, 2020 against Iona, went 9 for 16 from the floor as SPU dropped to 1-3 on the young season.
The Friars were led offensively by a 25-point effort by Noah Horchler as well as 23 points from Nate Watson to improve to 6-1.
The Peacocks also got solid efforts from juniors Doug Edert and Fousseyni Drame, both scoring in double figures with 16 and 13 points, respectively. Drame nearly produced a double-double as well with a team-high nine boards.
After falling behind by 10 in the first half, SPU outscored Providence 12-5 in the final four minutes to cut the deficit down to 38-37 at the break.
The second half started with a bang for Banks III as he knocked down a 3-pointer and finished a big two-handed slam dunk off an assist from Edert to give the Peacocks a 46-45 edge at the under-16 timeout.
The Friars bounced back, however, using a 17-4 run across five minutes of game action to re-take the lead at 69-55 and never looked back.
Inside the Numbers
- SPU set new season-highs in points (71), field goals made (27), shooting percentage (45.8) assists (15) and steals (11).
- Edert scored in double figures for the third time in four games this season while also pulling down four boards and dishing out three assists.
- Much as he has been all season, Matthew Lee was the leading distributor for the Peacocks as he finished with four assists.
- Freshman Clarence Rupert was fantastic off the bench with eight points, going 4 for 6 from the floor while fellow classmate Jaylen Murray led the team with four steals.
- The Peacocks took great care of the basketball with a season-low nine turnovers while forcing Providence to turn it over 15 times.
- SPU held a 14-6 edge in second chance points despite being outrebounded 29-20.
- Led by six offensive boards by Fousseyni Drame, the Peacocks were able to pull down 10 boards on the offensive glass.
- The Friars did a lot of damage from the free throw line, knocking down 29 of 31 shots from the charity stripe.
- Banks III, Drame and Edert combined to score 55 of the Peacocks' 71 points and shoot 20 for 37 from the floor.
Next Up
- Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) competition starts Friday, Dec. 3 when the Peacocks travel to Hamden, Conn., to take on Quinnipiac University.
- SPU holds a 12-6 all-time record against the Bobcats.
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