Men's Basketball Takes Down Rider on the Road for Second Straight MAAC Win Sunday

LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. (Jan. 16, 2021) - The Saint Peter's University men's basketball team used a strong defensive effort and had 9 different players score at least two points for the second straight game to earn a 58-51 win on the road at Rider University Sunday to win back-to-back contests for the first time this season.

The Peacocks were led offensively by 12 points from junior Doug Edert, 10 of which came in the last 10 minutes of the contest, and forced the Broncs into 19 turnovers to improve to 5-6 overall and 3-1 in MAAC play.

With the win, SPU moves into a tie for second place with Siena in the MAAC standings.

Edert, who had just two points at halftime, hit a pair of huge 3-point shots in less than two minutes to grow the lead from three to nine with 8:18 left and went 4 for 4 from the free throw line down the stretch to seal the win for the Peacocks.

SPU also got a strong near double-double effort from Fousseyni Drame who finished with eight points and 10 rebounds to reach double digits boards for the third time this season.

Defensively, the Peacocks held Rider, who had three players score in double figures, to just 37.0 percent from the floor and 18.2 percent from 3-point range in the game. It was the fourth time this season SPU has forced a team into at least 19 turnovers while setting a new season-high with 13 steals in the win.

How It Happened

• The Peacocks, who never trailed in the game, took an early 12-6 lead and the two teams traded points back-and-forth to a score of 18-17 with 8:11 left in the first half.
• From that point on, SPU outscored the Broncs 17-4 over the final eight minutes to head into the break with a 35-21 lead. 
• In the 17-4 run, the Peacocks got four points apiece from KC Ndefo, Fousseyni and Hassan Drame as well as three more from Matthew Lee.
• Rider came out of the break strong, holding SPU to just one made field goal over the first eight minutes of the second half and using a 14-3 run to make the score 38-35.
• Needing a bucket, the Peacocks turned to Edert who delivered with a pair of 3-pointers from the corner to extend the lead back to nine at 46-37.
• The Broncs did not go away there, however, answering with five straight points of their own to cut the deficit back down to four.
• With the score 52-48 with 1:50 left to play, Lee pulled up and knocked down a jumper from the free throw line and took a charge on the next defensive possession to give the Peacocks a six-point lead with less than a minute left.
• After a layup made the score 54-50 with :33 seconds left, Rider had no choice but to foul Edert and send him to the line for a 1-and-1.
• The junior who came into the contest ranked third in the MAAC in free throw percentage showed no nerves and knocked down both shots from the stripe to push the lead back to six.
• A free throw at the other end for Rider and another foul put Edert at the line once again to ice the game and give SPU a seven-point win.

Inside the Numbers

• Ndefo finished just one point shy of reaching double figures for the third straight game with nine points, three rebounds, two steals, two assists and a blocked shot.
• Playing for just the second time since his return from injury, Lee ran an efficient offense with five points and a team-high four assists in the win.
• The Broncs did a lot of damage on the offensive glass in the first half with 10 offensive rebounds in the stanza. SPU was able to limit the second chance opportunities in the second half, however, with just two offensive boards in the final 20.
• Oumar Diahame made his second career start and set a new career-high for the second consecutive game with seven points, all of which came in the first half.
• The Peacocks were fantastic from the floor shooting 57.7 percent in the first half and 40.7 percent in the game.
• SPU earned the win despite making just four 3-pointers in the game, the third-lowest total in a game this season.
• It was the first time Edert scored in double figures since the victory over Quinnipiac on Dec. 3 and the fifth time overall.
• The bench was huge for the Peacocks as SPU outscored Rider 27-6 in bench points.
• It is the first time the Peacocks have won back-to-back MAAC games since taking down Fairfield and Marist Feb. 14 and 19th, 2021, respectively.

From the Sidelines (Head Coach Shaheen Holloway)

• "I thought the guys came out with great energy in the first half but we got complacent in the second. We had no rhythm or legs but the guys dug down deep and got stops and made free throws."
• "Doug was big in the second half. I'm telling him and all the guys that were in isolation that they have to let it come to them. They are all rushing and trying to get it back all at once and that's not going to happen. I'm proud of the guys though, it was a good team effort."

Up Next

• SPU will return to the court for their third game in five days Tuesday when they take on Canisius at 2:00 p.m. inside Run Baby Run Arena.

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