JERSEY CITY, N.J. (Feb. 15, 2021) - Senior KC Ndefo filled up the stat sheet with 16 points, eight rebounds, three blocks and three steals but it was not enough as the Saint Peter's University men's basketball team fell 70-61 against Iona College Tuesday night inside Run Baby Run Arena.
Trailing by as many as 11 points in the first half, the Peacocks cut the deficit down to two points with just over 13 minutes left to play in the game after a layup from Fousseyni Drame. The Gaels responded with a 13-3 run, however, to swell the lead back to 12 and kept SPU at arms-length the rest of the way.
With the win, Iona improved to 21-5 overall and 13-2 in MAAC play while the Peacocks dropped to 11-10 overall and 9-5 in the MAAC.
Freshman Jaylen Murray joined Ndefo in double figures with 10 points going 5 for 6 from the floor to reach double-digits for the fourth time this season.
It is the first time this season SPU has lost back-to-back conference games as the Peacocks fall into third place in the MAAC standings.
How It Happened
- The Peacocks came out of the gates strong defensively, forcing the Gaels to miss their first five shots of the game to take an early 6-1 lead after a jumper from Isiah Dasher.
- With the score 12-10 in favor of SPU, Iona went on a 15-2 run fueled by five points from Quinn Slazinski to take a 25-14 lead with 5:38 left in the first half.
- The Peacocks made sure the game did not get out of reach before the break, though, as Doug Edert knocked down a 3-pointer and Ndefo hit a pair of free throws to give SPU seven of the final nine points of the half to make the score 30-24 Iona heading into the locker room.
- After the Gaels grew the lead to seven at 38-31 with 15:36 remaining, the Peacocks were able to rattle off five straight points to pull back within two for the first time since early in the first half.
- Iona, the top team in the MAAC standings throughout the season, was not to be denied as they quickly answered with 13 of the next 16 points to push the lead back up to 51-39.
- Down the stretch, the Peacocks were able to climb back within five after back-to-back jumpers from Matthew Lee and Daryl Banks III with 43 seconds left.
- It was all for naught, however, as Iona hit seven of their last eight free throws to seal the nine-point win.
Inside the Numbers
- Lee also filled up the stat sheet in the loss with eight points, five rebounds, four assists and a steal.
- Iona outrebounded the Peacocks 41-36 and with 14 total offensive boards that led to a 19-12 edge in second-chance points.
- The Peacocks finished with a higher overall shooting percentage (40.0) than the Gaels (39.0) but went just 15 for 24 from the line while Iona finished 18 of 24.
- The Peacocks lost back-to-back home MAAC games for the first time since falling to Rider and Quinnipiac on Feb. 17 and March 1, 2019.
- The Gaels contested a ton of shots at the rim with 11 blocked shots led by six from Nelly Junior Joseph who finished with a 17-point, 12-rebound double-double.
- After setting a season-high with 10 made 3-pointers in the last contest against Iona, the Peacocks tied a season low with just two made shots from beyond the arc.
Postgame Press Conference (Head Coach Shaheen Holloway)
Next Up
- SPU will begin a three-game road trip Friday night when they travel to Bridgeport, Ct., to take on Fairfield for the first time this season at 7:00 p.m. on ESPNU.
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