JERSEY CITY, NJ. - The Saint Peter's Men's Basketball team (5-5, 2-0 MAAC) picked up a 73-70 victory over Kean (6-6, 4-2 NJAC) on Friday at Run Baby Run Arena.
Corey Washington led the Peacocks and notched his second-career double-double. The SPU sophomore scored a career-high 26 points and grabbed 10 rebounds along with four steals, one block, and one assist. Washington shot an efficient 8-12 from the field and 2-3 (66%) from three-point range. Latrell Reid scored 15 points and distributed six assists. Armoni Zeigler made his first-career start for the Peacocks and dropped nine points. The freshman went 4-9 from the field.
The Peacocks grabbed 38 rebounds, tallied 13 steals, and scored 17 points off turnovers in the game.
In the first half, the Cougars shot 13-25 (52%) from the field and 4-5 from three-point range (80%). Under a minute in the half, a pair of free throws from Marcus Randolph extended the SPU lead to 35-29. On the next possession, Kean's Vaughn Laki Anderson knocked down a three-pointer with under thirty two seconds left in the half. SPU led 35-32 at halftime.
In the second half, Kean shot 11-26 FG (42.3%) and 45% from three-point range. Down the stretch, under seven minutes left, Saint Peter's went on a 8-2 run. The run started when Washington hit a mid-range jump shot which gave Saint Peter's a 62-61 advantage. With 3:29 left in the game Roy Clarke knocked down a corner three-pointer which built the SPU lead to 68-63. At the 2:17 mark Washington tacked on another basket in the paint and Saint Peter's led 71-65.
The Cougars made a late push in the final minute of the game. At the 35 second mark, the Cougars made a three-pointer and trailed by one. Reid added a pair of free throws with 19 seconds left in the game. In the final Kean possession, the Cougars missed a three-pointer which sealed the 73-70 victory.
Next, the Peacocks will be back on the road when they travel to Lewisburg, PA for a game at Bucknell (3-9) on Saturday, Dec. 30.
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