Men's Basketball Takes on Quinnipiac at Home on ESPNU

The Particulars
Saint Peter's (9-7, 7-2 MAAC) vs. Quinnipiac (11-8, 6-5 MAAC)
Date: Friday, Feb. 4, 2021
Location: Run Baby Run Arena
Network: ESPNU

Tip-Off

• After winning six of eight games in the month of January, the Saint Peter's men's basketball team returns to action with a Friday night home contest against Quinnipiac.
• The Peacocks head into the contest after dropping a 85-77 contest on the road at Iona on Sunday while the Bobcats fell 85-76 at Siena last time out.

Looking Back at Iona

• With the score 36-32 three minutes into the second half, Iona went on an 18-4 run over less than five minutes of game action and held on late to earn an 85-77 win over the Saint Peter's University men's basketball team Sunday inside the Hynes Athletic Center.
• Juniors Doug Edert and Matthew Lee both put up new season-highs with 21 and 20 points, respectively, but the Peacocks were unable to slow down the Gaels offensive attack as they dropped to 9-8 overall and 7-3 in the MAAC.
• Iona finished the game shooting 51.6 percent from the floor and outrebounded the Peacocks 37-30 in the contest as they improved to 18-3 and remained unbeaten in the league at 10-0.
• Edert and Lee combined to shoot 14 for 19 from the floor and 8 for 9 from 3-point range while KC Ndefo also finished in double figures with 14 points of his own.
• The Peacocks had their best game of the year from beyond the arc as they went 10 for 15 to make double-digit 3-pointers in a game for the first time this season.
• Despite the loss, SPU remained alone in second place in the MAAC standings halfway through the conference season.

The Series

• All-time: Saint Peter's leads 13-6
• Streak: Saint Peter's (2)
• Last Saint Peter's Win: 12/3/21 (W, 69-59 @ Quinnipiac)
• Last Quinnipiac Win: 3/4/21 (L, 65-60 @ Quinnipiac)

Quick Team Notes

• After nearly a month between games from Dec. 18 to Jan. 14, the Peacocks have gone 6-2 in the 2022 calendar year to move to 7-3 in MAAC play and vault into second place in the MAAC.
• Ndefo, the two-time reigning MAAC Defensive Player of the Year, heads into the contest averaging 11.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.8 blocks per game in MAAC games this season.
• Daryl Banks III leads the Peacocks offensively averaging 11.1 points per game this season.
• SPU heads into the contest with one of the top defenses in the MAAC, leading the conference and ranking in the top-70 in DI allowing just 64.5 points per game.
• The contest against Quinnipiac kicks off a four-game homestand for the Peacocks, the longest of the season, as they will play six of their last 10 games inside Run Baby Run Arena.
• The Peacocks knocked off the Bobcats 69-59 on the road earlier this season on Dec. 3.
• It will be the first time the Saint Peter's will be featured on ESPNU in the newly renovated Run Baby Run Arena and the first home game for the Peacocks on the network since Jan. 21, 2011 when the Peacocks defeated Siena 77-69. SPU would go on to win the 2010-11 MAAC Tournament Title and advance to the NCAA Tournament for the third time in program history.

Shot BlocKing

• The 2021-22 MAAC Preseason Player of the Year, Ndefo swatted another shot in Sunday's contest against Iona to stretch his program-best career total to 249, good for the fifth most among active players in DI.
• Ndefo leads the MAAC and is 42nd in the country with 2.04 blocked shots per game this season. 
• He currently sits just 13 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 ninth in the country in free throw percentage at 92.0 percent.
• 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.
• Edert, meanwhile, is second in the MAAC shooting 88.4 percent from the line this season. He has missed just five free throws this season.

Defense Wins Championships

• The Peacocks have allowed under 70 points in nine of their last 10 games and hold a 9-4 record this season when allowing less than 70.
• SPU leads the MAAC in steals per game while sitting second in opponents' field goal percentage, forced turnovers 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 10 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.

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. 

Breaking Down the Bobcats

• Quinnipiac heads into the matchup with an 11-8 overall record and currently sit 6-5 in MAAC play this season.
• The Bobcats are 4-2 in their last six games and are coming off an 85-76 defeat at the hands of Siena on Sunday.
• Junior Matt Balanc is the leading scorer for Quinnipiac averaging 14.7 points per game. Balanc scored 20 points while pulling down seven rebounds in the last matchup against the Peacocks in December.
• Graduate student Kevin Marfo is the top rebounder in the MAAC, averaging a double-double with 10.6 points and 10.8 boards per game. Marfo had a season-high 20 rebounds against SPU the last time the two teams played and currently ranks seventh in the country in rebounds per contest.
• Sophomore Dezi Jones joins Marfo and Balanc in double figures with 10.1 points per game. Jones has scored in double figures eight times in their last 11 games.
• As a team, Quinnipiac is the top 3-point shooting team in the league with 9.1 made 3-pointers per game and ranks second in the MAAC with 74.3 points per game.
• The Bobcats have struggled defending beyond the arc this season, ranking 11th in the conference in opponents' 3-point percentage.

Up Next

• The Peacocks will be back in action Friday night to kick off a string of four consecutive games at home inside Run Baby Run Arena against Quinnipiac.
• The game will be broadcasted nationally on ESPNU at 7:00 p.m. as SPU will be featured on a linear network in a home game for the first time since 2011.

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