Men's Basketball Returns to Action After Long Layoff at Home Against Monmouth

The Particulars
Saint Peter's (3-6, 1-1 MAAC) vs. Monmouth (10-3, 2-0 MAAC)
Date: Friday, Jan. 14 (7:00 PM)
Location: Run Baby Run Arena
Network: ESPN3

Tip-Off

• After a 27-day hiatus from competition, the Saint Peter's men's basketball program returns to the court as they take on Monmouth University Friday inside Run Baby Run Arena.
• The last time the Peacocks played in a contest was Dec. 18 when SPU fell on the road at Stony Brook 64-63. The Hawks, meanwhile, have also had a long layoff with no competition since Dec. 22 when they fell 77-71 at home against Hofstra.

Spectator Policy

• All guests ages 12 and older must provide proof of a completed series of World Health Organization (WHO)-approved COVID-19 vaccination.
  • PLEASE NOTE: Full vaccination is achieved two weeks following a person's second dose of a two-dose vaccine series such as Pfizer and Moderna, or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine such as Johnson & Johnson.
• Masks are required at all events inside the Yanitelli Center regardless of vaccination status.
• Proof of COVID-19 vaccination may be demonstrated by displaying a photo or hard copy of a CDC vaccination card, NJ DOCKET app, New York State Excelsior App, or an official vaccination record. We ask that you have such proof readily available prior to arriving at the venue.

• Fans ages 12 and under will be admitted to the game for FREE! All parents are eligible for discounted tickets ($10 for the men's game, $5 for the women's game).

Looking Back at Stony Brook

• SPU held a 50-40 lead with just over 11 minutes left in the second half, but could not hold on as SBU used a 24-7 run over the next nine minutes and held on late to grab a 64-63 win.
• 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.
• 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.

The Series

• All-time: Saint Peter's leads 28-16
• Streak: Saint Peter's (1)
• Last Saint Peter's Win: 12/19/2020 (W, 78-76, @ Monmouth)
• Last Monmouth Win: 12/18/2020 (L, 78-76, @ Monmouth)

Notes and Nuggets

• SPU heads into the contest trying to stop a three-game losing skid against Division I opponents as they look for their first DI win since defeating Quinnipiac 69-59 on Dec. 3.
• Ndefo, the 2021-22 MAAC Preseason Player of the Year, heads into the contest coming off one of this best performances of the season with 13 points, five rebounds and five blocks in Saturday's contest at Stony Brook. He leads the MAAC with 2.56 blocks per game and ranks sixth in the NCAA among active players in career blocks.
• Banks III, a Preseason All-MAAC Second Team selection, leads the Peacocks offensively averaging 12.3 points per game this season. He has scored in double figures in six of SPU's last seven contests and is leading the conference in free throw percentage at 89.3 percent.
• Junior guard Doug Edert joins Banks III in double figures with 10.3 points per contest with a pair of 17-point games to his ledger. Edert is third in the conference shooting 87.5 percent from the line this season.
• Fousseyni Drame is the team's leading rebounder, sitting fourth in the MAAC with 7.7 boards per game. Drame averages 9.2 points per game and is shooting 51.6 percent from the floor.
• SPU heads into the contest with one of the top defenses in the MAAC, ranking inside the top three in the conference in scoring defense (3rd), opponents field goal percentage (2nd), blocked shots per game (2nd) and steals per game (2nd).

What's Happening with the Hawks

• Monmouth heads into the contest as one of only two remaining undefeated teams in MAAC play after sweeping Caninius and Niagara in their trip to upstate New York in early December.
• The Hawks have four student-athletes averaging at least 10 points per game this season, including two of the top-three scorers in the MAAC in George Papas and Shavar Reynolds.
• Papas, a 2020-21 Second Team All-MAAC selection, heads into the matchup second in the conference with 16.3 points per contest. Papas is also leading the MAAC and ranked 19th in the country with 3.31 made 3-pointers per game. Reynolds, meanwhile, averages 15.8 points per game to rank third in the MAAC. 
• Not far behind Papas and Reynolds, North Carolina transfer Walker Miller averages 14.9 points per contest, the sixth-highest in the conference.
• Monmouth has been dynamite from the free throw line this season sitting fourth in the NCAA shooting 80.6% from the charity stripe on the year.

Up Next

• The Peacocks will return to the court Sunday, Jan. 16 when they travel to Lawrenceville, N.J., to take on Rider at 2:00 p.m.

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