Men's Basketball Faces Off with Canisius Looking for Third Win in Five Days

The Particulars
Saint Peter's (5-6, 3-1 MAAC) vs. Canisius (5-11, 1-4 MAAC)
Date: Tuesday, Jan. 18 (2:00 PM)
Location: Run Baby Run Arena
Network: ESPN+

Tip-Off

• Coming off back-to-back MAAC wins over the weekend against NJ foes Monmouth and Rider, Saint Peter's returns to action Tuesday when they take on Canisius in a matinee matchup originally scheduled for Dec. 31.
• The Peacocks come into the contest coming off a 58-51 win over Rider on the road Sunday while the Griffs comeback effort fell short in an 80-75 matchup at Manhattan Sunday.

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• 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.

The Series

• All-time: Canisius leads 49-36
• Streak: Canisius (2)
• Last Saint Peter's Win: 2/29/2020 (W, 69-68 @ Canisius)
• Last Canisius Win: 1/2/2021 (L, 63-60 @ Canisius)

Team Notes

• After nearly a month between games, the Peacocks went 2-0 over the weekend to move to 3-1 in MAAC play and into a tie for second place.
• KC Ndefo, the 2021-22 MAAC Preseason Player of the Year, heads into the contest having scored in double figures in two of his last three games.
• Daryl Banks III leads the Peacocks offensively averaging 11.5 points per game this season. He has scored in double figures in seven of SPU's last nine contests.
• Edert joins Banks III in double figures averaging 10.0 points per game after his 12-point effort in the win over Rider. Edert has scored at least 12 points in five of his 10 games this season.
• Fousseyni Drame is the team's leading rebounder, sitting fourth in the MAAC with 7.9 boards per game. Drame averages 8.7 points per game and is shooting 52.1 percent from the floor this season.

• The two-time defending MAAC Defensive Player of the Year, Ndefo added another block to his ledger in the win over Rider to bring his career total to 240, good for the fifth most among active players in DI. 
• Ndefo leads the MAAC with 2.4 blocked shots per game this season and has a block in 83 of his 95 games played with the Peacocks.

Money from the Stripe

• Banks III is leading the conference and ranked 14th in the country in free throw percentage at 90.9 percent.
• Banks III has made 21 consecutive free throws dating back to Nov. 27 and has missed just three shots from the stripe this season.
• Edert, meanwhile, is second in the MAAC and 29th in the country shooting 89.3 percent from the line this season. He has also missed just three free throws this season.

Defense Wins Championships

• SPU heads into the contest with one of the top defenses in the MAAC, leading the league allowing just 64.5 points per game this season.
• The Peacocks also lead the MAAC and rank 37th in the country with 8.7 steals per game on the year.
• SPU also ranks inside the top-three in the conference in opponents' field goal percentage, blocked shots per game and turnovers forced per game.

Catching Up with Canisius

• Canisius heads into the contest with a 5-11 overall record and a 1-4 record in MAAC play this season. 
• The Golden Griffins dropped back-to-back contests over the weekend against Manhattan and Niagara after defeating Quinnipiac at home last Tuesday.
• Canisius is led offensively by senior Malek Green who is averaging 13.9 points and 6.2 rebounds per game this season.
• Junior Armon Harried and senior Jordan Henderson join Green averaging double figures as they score 12.2 and 10.3 points per contest, respectively.
• The Griffs take good care of the basketball, leading the conference in turnover margin and sitting third in turnovers per game.
• Canisius also is strong defending beyond the arc, ranking second in the MAAC and 26th in the country in 3-point percentage defense.
• The Griffs have struggled overall defensively this season, ranking 11th in the MAAC in scoring defense and opponents' field goal percentage.

Up Next

• The Peacocks will make their trip upstate starting with a Friday night contest at Niagara University at 7:00 p.m.

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