HAMDEN, Ct. (Dec. 3, 2021) - Four different student-athletes scored in double figures and senior KC Ndefo filled up the stat sheet to lead the Saint Peter's men's basketball team to a 69-59 victory over Quinnipiac University Friday at People's United Center in the first game of Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play.
Ndefo poured in 16 points, a career-high seven assists, seven rebounds and two blocks while junior Fousseyni Drame produced his third career double-double as the Peacocks improved to 2-3, 1-0 MAAC this season.
SPU has now kicked off conference play with a win in each of the first four seasons of head coach Shaheen Holloway's career.
Joining Ndefo and Drame in double figures were Daryl Banks III and Doug Edert who finished with 15 and 13 points, respectively. The duo did a lot of damage from the free throw line down the stretch, combining to go 10 for 11 from the stripe in the second half.
The Peacocks led by as many as 12 points in the second half, but the Bobcats were able to climb back to within two with just over three minutes left after Kevin Marfo knocked down a free throw.
They were unable to get any closer, however, as Banks III hit perhaps the biggest shot of the night, knocking down a 3-point basket with 1:57 left to play to re-extend the lead to five and jump start a 9-1 run to close the game for the Peacocks.
How it Happened
- The first half started with a bang as well for SPU with Matthew Lee, Banks III, Drame and Ndefo all knocking down 3-pointers in the first four minutes of game action to fuel an 14-2 start.
- Quinnipiac was able to respond with a 15-4 run of their own to get back to within one at 18-17, but Edert, Banks III and Ndefo all teamed up to help the Peacocks score nine of the next 12 points to push the lead back to nine.
- Leading 34-29 at the break, SPU started the second half in similar fashion to the first, using a 11-4 run capped by a 3-point bucket from Ndefo to make the score 45-33.
- With the 60-48 with 6:19 remaining, the Bobcats were able to give the Peacocks a scare, holding SPU scoreless for over 4 and a half minutes of game action and go on a 10-0 run to make the score 60-58 with two minutes left before Banks III provided the heroics with the shot from beyond the arc.
- The Peacocks were able to hold on late and knocked down late free throws to push the final lead back up to nine.
Inside the Numbers
- The Peacocks never trailed in the game and led by as many as 12 in both the first and second halves.
- Ndefo's seven assists, all of which came in the first half, were the most he has had in his time with the Peacocks, besting his previous high of four set four different times in his career.
- Ndefo also knocked down two 3-point baskets in the game, the most in his career and ties the total he had in the entirety of the 2020-21 season.
- SPU's stifling defense held the Bobcats to a 32.3 percent shooting percentage overall and a 22.7 percentage from downtown.
- The Peacocks narrowly outrebounded Quinnipiac 39-38 despite 20 boards from Marfo, the nation's leading rebounder in 2019-20.
- It is the first time this season SPU had at least four players score in double figures.
- The Bobcats got a lot of help off the bench, outsourcing the Peacocks 32-9 in bench points.
- The starting five of Ndefo, Drame, Banks III, Lee and Edert were fantastic in their time on the court, all putting up at least +14 in the plus/minus category.
- It is the first road win of the season for SPU with each of their last two true road wins coming in Hamden against Quinnipiac.
- The Peacocks joined Iona, Manhattan, Monmouth and Fairfield as winners on the opening night of MAAC play.
Up Next
- A quick turnaround awaits SPU as they will return to the court Sunday to take on Siena University at home in Run Baby Run Arena at 2:00 p.m.
- The Peacocks lead the all-time series against the Saints 52-44 after the two teams split a pair of games a season ago.
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