STONY BROOK, N.Y. (Dec. 18, 2021) - The Saint Peter's University men's basketball team held a 50-40 lead with just over 11 minutes left in the second half, but could not hold on as Stony Brook University used a 24-7 run over nine minutes of game action and held on late to grab a 64-63 win Saturday at Island Federal Arena.
Junior Daryl Banks III, who finished the contest with 12 points, couldn't get the final shot of the game to fall after the Peacocks responded with six straight points of their own to cut the deficit to one, dropping to 3-6 overall on the season.
Senior KC Ndefo led the way for SPU with 13 points, five rebounds and five blocks while all nine student-athletes who appeared in the contest scored at least two points for the Peacocks.
The Seawolves, meanwhile, won their fourth straight game led by a game-high 15 points from Jahlil Jenkins, seven of which came in the final 4:33 of the contest.
SPU played stifling defense throughout, holding SBU, who came into the contest leading the America East in 3-pointers per game, to just 34.1 percent from the floor and 19.2 percent from 3-point range.
How It Happened
- After a fast start scoring the first five points of the game, the Peacocks quickly went on a 10-1 run that featured back-to-back 3-points from Banks III and freshman Jaylen Murray to take a 15-6 lead.
- SPU was able to keep the Seawolves at arms-length for the remainder of the first half, leading by as many as 12 after a 3-pointer from Doug Edert with 3:41 left.
- The Seawolves answered with nine straight points to cut the deficit to three at 28-25 and the teams headed into the break with a 34-27 lead in favor of the Peacocks.
- To start the second half, SBU's Tykei Greene hit a putback layup to cap a quick 7-1 run and bring the Seawolves within one for the first time since the first minute of the game.
- The Peacocks answered with an 11-2 run that featured points from Ndefo, Edert, Banks III, Clarence Rupert and Latrell Reid to once again grow the lead to double figures at 50-40.
- Over the course of the next 9:42 of game action, SPU was held to just two made field goals to help the Seawolves go on their run to take a 64-57 lead, their largest of the game.
- With 1:56 remaining the Peacocks did not fold, using suffocating full court defense to force back-to-back turnovers that led to six straight SPU points to make the score 64-63 with 1:27 left.
- The Peacocks were unable to get over the hump, however, missing on their last three attempts to take the lead late in the game.
Inside the Numbers
- Edert, Murray and Hassan Drame were solid offensive options for SPU, both scoring eight points apiece while Murray also chipped in five boards and a team-high four assists.
- H. Drame came off the bench and was the team's leading rebounder with seven boards in 18 minutes of action.
- The Peacocks held a 40-37 edge in rebounds but Stony Brook was able to take advantage of the offensive glass with a 20-10 edge in 2nd chance points.
- The Seawolves also were able to force 18 SPU turnovers and convert it into a 23-12 advantage in points off turnovers.
- With five more blocks in the contest, Ndefo increased his school record career total to 237. He now needs just 102 total points to become the 34th student-athlete in program history to reach 1,000 points and just the second to join the exclusive 1,000-point, 500-rebound, 200-block club.
- The Peacock bench was solid in the matchup, scoring 26 of the team's 63 points in the matchup.
- The 30 defensive boards in the contest were tied for the most SPU has had in a game this season.
Next Up
- A quick trip to Hackensack, N.J., awaits the Peacocks as they travel to take on Fairleigh Dickinson University Wednesday, Dec. 22 at 3:00 p.m.
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