The Particulars
Saint Peter's (13-11, 11-6 MAAC) vs. Niagara (12-14, 7-10 MAAC)
Date: Sunday, Feb. 27, 2022 (2:00 PM)
Location: Run Baby Run Arena (Jersey City, N.J.)
Network: ESPN+
Tip-Off
- After knocking off Monmouth on the road in a battle of two of the top-four teams in the MAAC standings, the Saint Peter's men's basketball team returns to Run Baby Run Arena for the first time in 12 days for a contest against Niagara.
- The Peacocks defeated the Hawks 70-65 Friday night while the Purple Eagles are coming off a hard-fought 70-68 loss at the hands of Rider Friday.
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.
Looking Back at Monmouth
- Senior KC Ndefo notched his third double-double of the season and four different players scored in double figures as SPU earned a win over Monmouth inside OceanFirst Bank Center.
- Ndefo finished the night with 14 points and 11 rebounds as the Peacocks improved to 13-11 overall and 11-6 in MAAC play in a tie for second place in the standings with Siena.
- With the win, SPU clinched a first round bye in the MAAC Tournament as they locked up at least a top-five finish in the regular season standings.
- Junior Matthew Lee finished the contest with 12 points while fellow classmates Doug Edert and Daryl Banks III chipped in 10 to join Ndefo in double figures. It was just the third time this season the Peacocks had at least four student-athletes with 10 points or more.
- After coming into the contest as the top rebounding team in the MAAC, Monmouth pulled down just 25 rebounds compared to 39 for SPU as the Peacocks limited the Hawks to just eight offensive boards in the contest.
The Series
- All-time: Niagara leads 52-39
- Streak: SPU (3)
- Last Saint Peter's Win: 1/21/22 (W, 74-68 (OT) @ Niagara)
- Last Niagara Win: 2/27/20 (L, 63-54 @ Niagara)
Quick Hitters
- After nearly a month between games from Dec. 18 to Jan. 14, SPU has gone 10-5 in the 2022 calendar year to move to 11-6 in MAAC play and vault into a tie for second place in the MAAC.
- KC Ndefo, the two-time reigning MAAC Defensive Player of the Year heads into the contest averaging 11.4 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.6 blocks per game in MAAC contests this season. He is coming off a 14-point, 11-rebound double-double in Friday's win over Monmouth.
- Daryl Banks III leads the Peacocks offensively overall on the season averaging 11.1 points per game this season. Banks has scored in double figures 14 times this season with 10 of those performances coming in MAAC games.
- SPU heads into the contest with one of the top defenses in the MAAC, leading the conference and ranking 53rd in DI allowing just 64.8 points per game.
- The Peacocks took down the Purple Eagles 74-68 in overtime in Niagara Falls, N.Y., in their first matchup earlier this season. SPU has won five consecutive home contests against Niagara.
- After the win over Fairfield on Friday, Feb. 18, SPU won its 10th MAAC contest for the third consecutive season. It is the first time the Peacocks have won double-digit conference contests in three straight seasons since 1986-89.
Shot BlocKing
- The 2021-22 MAAC Preseason Player of the Year, Ndefo now has a program-best career total of 276 blocks, good for the fifth-most among active players in DI.
- In the home win over Quinnipiac on Friday, Feb. 4, Ndefo swatted 11 shots to set the single-game program record for blocks in a game. It was tied for the second-most blocked shots all-time in a MAAC game.
- After leading the country in blocks per game in 2020-21, Ndefo is atop the MAAC and is 21st in the country with 2.58 blocked shots per game this season.
Money From the Stripe
- Banks III is one of the top free throw shooters in the country, leading the conference and ranked 15th in the NCAA shooting 89.4 percent from the line.
- From Nov. 27 to Jan. 26, Banks III made 34 straight free throws which is currently the fourth-longest streak in Division I this season.
- Doug Edert, meanwhile, is second in the MAAC shooting 88.5 percent from the line this season. He has missed just six free throws this season.
Defense Wins Championships
- The Peacocks have allowed under 70 points in 13 of their last 16 games and hold a 12-5 record this season when allowing less than 70.
- Thus far this season, SPU leads the MAAC in steals per game while ranking second in the conference in opponents' field goal percentage, blocked shots per game and turnovers forced per game.
- The Peacocks currently rank 50th in the NCAA in opponents' 3-point percentage and 44th in overall field goal percentage defense.
Balancing Act
- SPU has had one of the most balanced groups in the country this season and have had 18 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. Additionally, all 12 are averaging at least 10 minutes per contest.
Threes Please
- SPU is ranked first in the MAAC and 62nd in the country shooting 36.3 percent from 3-point range as a team this season.
- Edert leads the way for the Peacocks and sits atop the conference shooting 43.6 percent from downtown on the year which would rank ninth in the country if he met the NCAA qualifying number of attempts.
- Matthew Lee also ranks inside the top-10 in the MAAC shooting 37.9 percent from deep.
Crashing the Boards
- The Peacocks are one of the top rebounding teams in the MAAC, leading the league with a +3.4 rebounding margin this season.
- SPU has done a marvelous job on the offensive glass this season as they sit atop the conference and 68th in the country with 11.5 offensive rebounds per game.
- Positive results on the boards has been a strong indicator of success for the Peacocks this season as they have outrebounded their opponent in nine of their 13 victories on the year.
Prepping for the Purple Eagles
- Niagara comes into the matchup at 12-14 overall this season holding a 7-10 record in MAAC play currently in a four-way tie for sixth place in the league standings.
- The Purple Eagles dropped Friday night's contest against Rider and have now lost three of their last four contests. Prior to this stretch, Niagara had won three straight games including grabbing wins over Monmouth and Iona.
- Senior Marcus Hammond is the top offensive option for the Purple Eagles, sitting second in the MAAC with 17.8 points per game this season. Hammond dropped 21 points and went 5 for 5 from 3-point range in the contest against the Peacocks earlier this season and has scored at least 20 points 10 times this season.
- Junior Noah Thomasson joins Hammond in double figures with 10.5 points per game this season. Thomasson scored 20 points in Niagara's upset win over Iona.
- As a team, the Purple Eagles have taken great care of the basketball this season, leading the league and ranking 32nd in the country in total turnovers this season.
- Niagara has struggled on the glass this year as they sit 11th in the MAAC with just 32.38 rebounds per game and only 7.42 offensive boards per contest which is also last in the conference.
Up Next
- The Peacocks will travel on the road one last time before the MAAC Tournament Tuesday when they head to Riverdale, N.Y., to take on Manhattan at 7:00 p.m.
- SPU defeated the Jaspers 77-51 in Jersey City in their first matchup of the season.
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