The Particulars
Saint Peter's (8-7, 6-2 MAAC) vs. Manhattan (10-6, 3-4 MAAC)
Date: Friday, Jan. 28, 2021 (7:00 PM)
Location: Run Baby Run Arena
Network: ESPN3
Tip-Off
- After picking up a midweek road win at Marist Wednesday night, the Saint Peter's men's basketball team returns to action Friday inside Run Baby Run Arena with a matchup against Manhattan.
- The Peacocks dropped the Red Foxes 69-62 Wednesday to remain in second place in the MAAC while Manhattan dropped a 78-62 decision at Monmouth Sunday afternoon to move to 3-5 in league play.
MAAC Traveling Trophy
- The MAAC Tournament Championship trophy will be in attendance at Run Baby Run Arena for Friday night's contest between the Peacocks and the Jaspers. Don't miss your chance to come and take a photo with the trophy prior to the game.
Looking Back at Marist
- Trailing 57-54 with under five minutes left to play, SPU closed the game on a 15-4 run and went 10 for 11 from the free throw line down the stretch to pick up a 69-62 win on the road against Marist to give head coach Shaheen Holloway his 50th career win.
- Junior Hassan Drame had his second consecutive strong performance with 18 points and 11 rebounds to produce back-to-back double-doubles for the first time in his collegiate career.
- With the win, Holloway is now the fourth-fastest coach in program history to reach 50 career wins, doing so in 99 career games (50-49).
- SPU was dynamite from 3-point range in the win, matching a season-high with nine made baskets from beyond the arc as they finished 9 for 20 led by a 3 of 4 performance from Daryl Banks III.
- In total, Banks III finished with 16 points and went 4 for 7 from the floor in the win. The 2020-21 Third Team All-MAAC selection pushed his consecutive made free throw streak to 34 before missing for the first time since Nov. 27 in the second half. The 34 straight made free throws is currently the fifth-longest streak in the NCAA this season.
- On the other end of the floor, the Peacocks limited the Red Foxes, who came into the contest shooting 34.1 percent from downtown, to 14.6 percent from 3-point range.
The Series
- All-time: Manhattan Leads 79-56
- Streak: Saint Peter's (4)
- Last Saint Peter's Win: 1/30/2021 (W, 68-54 @ SPU)
- Last Manhattan Win: 2/2/2019 (L, 64-50 @ Manhattan)
Quick Team Notes
- After nearly a month between games from Dec. 18 to Jan. 14, the Peacocks have gone 5-1 in the 2022 calendar year to move to 6-2 in MAAC play and vault into second place in the MAAC.
- KC Ndefo, the 2021-22 MAAC Preseason Player of the Year, heads into the contest hitting his stride in this six-game stretch. In conference play this season, Ndefo is averaging 11.3 points and 8.0 rebounds per game.
- Banks III leads the Peacocks offensively averaging 11.6 points per game this season. Banks III has scored in double figures 10 times on the year including a 16-point performance in the win over Marist.
- Junior Fousseyni Drame is the team's leading rebounder, sitting fifth in the MAAC with 6.9 boards per game. Drame averages 7.8 points per game and is shooting 51.8 percent from the floor this season.
- SPU heads into the contest with one of the top defenses in the MAAC, leading the conference in scoring defense, steals per game and turnovers forced while ranking second in blocks per game and opponents' field goal percentage.
Shot BlocKing
- The two-time defending MAAC Defensive Player of the Year, Ndefo swatted another shot in the win over Marist to stretch his program-best career total to 246, good for the fifth most among active players in DI.
- Ndefo leads the MAAC and is 41st in the country with 2.13 blocked shots per game this season.
- He currently sits just 36 points away from becoming the second player in program history to amass 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 200 blocks in a career.
Money from the Stripe
- Banks III is leading the conference and ranked 10th in the country in free throw percentage at 91.7 percent.
- Banks III saw his consecutive made free throw streak come to an end at 34 straight makes against Marist which is currently the fourth-longest streak in Division I this season.
- Doug Edert, meanwhile, is fourth in the MAAC shooting 86.1 percent from the line this season. He has missed just five 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 64.1 points per game this season. The Peacocks have allowed under 70 points in eight straight games and hold a 6-2 record in those contests.
- The Peacocks also lead the MAAC and rank 54th in the country with 8.1 steals and 15.2 turnovers forced per game on the year.
- SPU ranks second in the conference in opponents' field goal percentage and blocked shots per game.
Balancing Act
- The Peacocks have been one of the most balanced groups in the country this season and have had eight consecutive games with at least eight different scorers.
- Offensively, nine different players have scored in double figures in a game this season.
- Of the 12 student-athletes who have seen action in a game this season, 11 have at least one start.
Matching Up With Manhattan
- Marist comes into Wednesday's matchup with a 10-6 overall record and currently sits at 3-4 in MAAC play.
- The Jaspers have not won or lost back-to-back games since late December, splitting their last six games with a 3-3 record.
- Manhattan comes into the contest with two of its three MAAC wins coming against Siena who defeated the Peacocks in Jersey City earlier this season.
- Senior Jose Perez is the leader for the offensive attack for the Jaspers, leading the league with 17.8 points per game. Perez also tops in the MAAC in assists per game and total free throws made.
- Senior Ant Nelson is also averaging double digits for Manhattan with 10.7 points per game while ranking fourth in the league with 1.54 steals per contest.
- The Jaspers have been lights out from the floor this season, leading the MAAC shooting 45.6 percent from the floor on the year.
- Manhattan has struggled on the glass thus far on the year, ranking 11th in the conference in defensive rebounds per game and 10th in total boards per contest.
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.
- Anyone 18 years or older must also present an appropriate ID with proof of vaccination, which must contain the name of the individual, and a photo of the individual or the individual's date of birth. Examples of acceptable forms of identification include but are not limited to: a driver's license, non-driver government ID card, passport and/or school or work-issued ID card.
Up Next
- SPU will be back in action Sunday when they travel to New Rochelle, NY, to take on Iona at 1:00 p.m.
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