RICHMOND, Va. (Nov. 9, 2021) - Trailing by as many as 17 points in the first half, the Saint Peter's University men's basketball stormed all the way back to take the lead with less than two minutes remaining, but could not hold on as they fell 57-54 on the road against Virginia Commonwealth University in the season opener at the Siegel Center.
Preseason MAAC Player of the Year KC Ndefo hit a running layup with 1:59 left on the clock to give the Peacocks their first lead of the game but the Rams were able to respond with a putback layup of their own from Hanson Ward with less than 30 seconds remaining and added a pair of free throws late to improve to 1-0 on the year, dropping SPU to 0-1.
Junior Doug Edert led all scorers in the game with 17 points after going 5 for 7 from the 3-point range to reach double figures for the 19th time in his collegiate career. Edert also added four rebounds and a pair of steals in the loss.
Ndefo was also solid in the contest as he finished with 10 points, four boards, an assist, a steal and a block in just 16 minutes of game action. Ndefo took over late, scoring five of the Peacocks' final eight points and assisting on an Edert 3-pointer that tied things up at 52.
Ward was the leader for VCU as nearly produced a double-double with 14 points and nine rebounds while Keshawn Curry added 12 points in the win.
With the score 10-7 early in the first half, the Rams created separation with a 9-0 run followed by a 7-0 run capped by back-to-back alley oops to take a 17-point lead at 29-12 with 5:09 remaining.
SPU was able to answer, however, with an 11-0 on their own, fueled by back-to-back 3-point buckets from Edert and Daryl Banks III to head into the break trailing by just eight.
After VCU swelled the lead back to 12 just under two minutes into the second half, the Peacocks continued to chip away as Edert knocked down a pair of 3s and Hassan Drame added a score to cut the deficit down to four at 35-31.
The Peacock rally was not done there, though, as they tied things up at 42 when Fousseyni Drame nailed a 3-pointer and Marty Silvera finished a strong drive to the hoop as a part of a 9-1 run.
VCU responded with a 9-2 run of their own to make the score 51-44 at the under-8 timeout.
As they did all night, the Peacocks fought back, this time with the stars of the game. Trailing 52-46 with just over 3:30 remaining, Ndefo made a strong move to the basket, drew a foul and made the shot off the glass. He then calmly stepped to the line out of a timeout and knocked down a free throw to make the score 52-49.
The next offensive possession for SPU, it was Edert's turn for heroics as he stepped into a pass from Ndefo from beyond the arc and buried a 3-point basket to tie things up at 52 with 2:39 remaining.
A VCU free-throw gave them the lead momentarily before Ndefo came down the court and finished the layup to give the Peacocks the lead.
The score remained 53-52 SPU until there were just 25 seconds remaining when Ward gave the Rams the lead for good with a one-handed rebound and putback.
The Peacocks were unable to get a shot off on either of their next two possessions and were forced to foul, giving VCU the three-point lead they finished with.
Inside the Numbers
- SPU held a huge 11-4 edge in second chance points and out-rebounded the Rams 38-31 in the contest.
- VCU scored 30 of their 57 points in the paint in the win with 19 more coming from the free throw line.
- Led by Edert's efficient night, SPU shot 33.3 percent from 3-point range and 31.0 percent from the floor.
- The Rams forced 21 turnovers in the game with 16 points off them while the Peacocks were able to force 19 and score 14 points off turnovers.
- Matthew Lee was the SPU third-leading scorer with eight points and added three assists and a pair of boards.
- Fousseyni Drame was the Peacocks' leading rebounder with eight while also pitching in six points.
- Freshmen Clarence Rupert and Jaylen Murray both made their collegiate debuts in the contest while senior Isiah Dasher played for the first time in an SPU uniform.
Up Next
- SPU travels to Queens, N.Y. Saturday to take on St. John's University at 4:00 p.m.
- The Peacocks will be looking to knock off the Red Storm for the first time in program history.
For continuing coverage of Saint Peter's University Athletics, visit SaintPetersPeacocks.com and follow the Peacocks on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
