Men's Basketball Looks to Clinch #2 Seed in the MAAC Tournament Against Fairfield in Regular Season Finale

The Particulars
Saint Peter's (15-11, 13-6 MAAC) vs. Fairfield (14-16, 8-11 MAAC)
Date: Saturday, March 5, 2022
Location: Run Baby Run Arena (Jersey City, N.J.)
Network: ESPN3

Tip-Off

• After dropping Manhattan by 22 points Tuesday night, the Saint Peter's men's basketball team returns to Run Baby Run Arena for the final time this season for the regular season finale as they take on Fairfield.
• The Peacocks are coming off a 73-51 victory over the Jaspers last time out while the Stags picked up a 65-59 victory over Rider at home on Thursday night.

Looking Back at Manhattan

• For the first time since the 2010-11 season in which they won the MAAC Tournament and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the third time in program history, the Peacocks have now won back-to-back games by at least 20 points as they finished Tuesday night with a 73-51 victory over Manhattan inside Draddy Gymnasium.
• The Peacocks had four players score in double figures led by 13 points from Daryl Banks III to improve to 15-11 overall, 13-6 in MAAC play and back into sole possession of second place in the conference standings with one regular season game left to play.
• The last time the Peacocks won two straight games by 20+ points was Jan. 29 and Feb. 4, 2011 when SPU defeated Rider 80-60 and Niagara 70-47, respectively.
• Joining Banks III in double figures was KC Ndefo, Fousseyni Drame and Doug Edert, all of which finished the contest with 12 points as the Peacocks shot 50.0 percent from the floor as a team.
• With the win, SPU now needs a win in Saturday's contest against Fairfield to clinch the #2 seed in the MAAC Tournament.

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.

The Series

• All-time: Saint Peter's leads 62-61
• Streak: SPU (2)
• Last Saint Peter's Win: 2/18/22 (W, 70-59 @ Fairfield)
• Last Fairfield Win: 2/13/21 (L, 55-50 @ SPU)

Quick Hitters

• After nearly a month between games from Dec. 18 to Jan. 14, SPU has gone 12-5 in the 2022 calendar year to move to 13-6 in MAAC play and vault into second place in the MAAC.
• KC Ndefo, the two-time reigning MAAC Defensive Player of the Year heads into the contest averaging 11.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.6 blocks per game in MAAC contests this season.
• Daryl Banks III leads the Peacocks offensively overall on the season averaging 11.2 points per game this season. Banks has scored in double figures 16 times this season with 12 of those performances coming in MAAC games including each of the last four contests.
• SPU heads into the contest with one of the top defenses in the MAAC, leading the conference and ranking 30th in DI allowing just 63.2 points per game.
• The Peacocks defeated the Stags 70-59 the last time the two teams met in Bridgeport on Feb. 18. Ndefo finished with 16 points and seven rebounds in the win while Banks III added seven points of his own.
• 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 280 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 2.54 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 12th in the NCAA shooting 90.0 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 88.1 percent from the line this season. He has missed just seven free throws this season.

Defense Wins Championships

• The Peacocks have allowed under 70 points in 15 of their last 18 games and hold a 14-5 record this season when allowing less than 70.
• Thus far this season, SPU leads the MAAC in scoring defense and opponents' field goal percentage and steals per game while ranking second in the conference in blocked shots per game and turnovers forced per game.
• The Peacocks currently rank 41st in the NCAA in opponents' 3-point percentage and 30th 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 20 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 9.6 minutes per contest.

Threes Please

• As a team, SPU is ranked third in the MAAC shooting 35.3 percent from 3-point range as a team this season.
• Edert leads the way for the Peacocks and sits second in the conference shooting 41.2 percent from downtown on the year which would rank 25th in the country if he met the NCAA qualifying number of attempts.
• Banks III and Matthew Lee also sit in the top-10 in the MAAC shooting 37.8 and 37.3 percent from deep to rank eighth and 10th, respectively.

Crashing the Boards

• The Peacocks are one of the top rebounding teams in the MAAC, leading the league with a +3.8 rebounding margin this season.
• SPU has done a marvelous job on the offensive glass this season as they sit atop the conference and 66th 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 10 of their 15 victories on the year.

Matching up with Manhattan

• Fairfield comes into the contest with a 14-16 overall record and an 8-11 record in MAAC play. The Stags are currently in a tie for sixth place in the conference standings.
• The Stags have won back-to-back contests over Manhattan and Rider and need a win in the contest and a loss by Marist against Niagara to clinch a bye in the first round of the MAAC Tournament.
• Graduate student Taj Benning is the leading scorer for the Stags averaging 10.9 points per game. Benning has scored in double figures in 10 of the last 16 games including an 11-point performance last time out against the Peacocks.
• Sophomore Supreme Cook has been a force in the middle all season averaging 10.3 points and 8.3 rebounds per contest. Cook is third in the league with seven double-doubles this season and ranks second in the MAAC with 248 total boards this season.
• As a team, Fairfield takes great care of the basketball as they lead the conference with just 11.2 turnovers per contest. The Stags also shoot the ball well from deep, sitting second in the MAAC with 7.8 made 3-pointers per game.
• Fairfield has struggled at times this season forcing mistakes on the other end, however, ranking 11th in the conference with only 11.3 turnovers forced and 5.4 steals per game.

Up Next

• The Peacocks will travel to Atlantic City, N.J. to compete in the MAAC Championship Tournament March 8-12 looking for their first title since 2010-11.
• With a win, SPU will be the #2 seed in the conference tournament and will play Wednesday night at 9:30 p.m. against the winner of the contest between the #7 and #10 seeds.

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