Box Score NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. – The Saint Peter's men's basketball team fell 60-70 to Niagara at the Gallagher Center Friday night after struggling to slow down the Purple Eagles' offensive attack.
The Peacocks (5-7, 0-4 MAAC) couldn't keep up with the Purple Eagles (7-8, 2-2 MAAC) who seemed to find the bottom of the net every time they shot it. Niagara shot 53.3 percent from the field and 42.9 percent from 3-point range.
Saint Peter's had some success early in the game, but after the Purple Eagles started to pull away the Peacocks couldn't manage to score consistently. SPU attempted 10 more shots than Niagara but the accuracy of the Purple Eagles was too much to handle.
Armoni Zeigler and
Marcus Randolph were the only Peacocks to score in double figures, but
Eric Morgan Jr. also showed some positive signs throughout the night. Randolph and Morgan Jr. both came off the bench and made their impacts felt as they combined for 18 points. Zeigler had 13 while also notching seven rebounds, three assists and three steals.
Saint Peter's had its second most steals in a game this year with 12, but those caused turnovers couldn't produce transition points for the Peacocks.
The Peacocks will look to turn the page to Sunday when they play Canisius at the Koessler Athletic Center at 1 p.m. ET.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Saint Peter's and Niagara fought to a 5-5 start over the first few minutes as
Elijah Perkins and
Mouhamed Sow led the charge for the Peacocks. After the first media timeout, the Purple Eagles took a three-point lead, but a layup from
Jaquel Morris brought SPU within one at 7-8.
Almost midway through the first half, Niagara hit back-to-back 3s to extend its lead to seven, 16-9. Just when it looked like the Purple Eagles were about to pull away, Morgan Jr. made a strong drive to the basket and converted an AND-1 layup to bring the Peacocks within four, 16-20.
With under four minutes to go, Saint Peter's trailed Niagara 20-25 as Zeigler led the offensive attack with eight of those 20 points. Niagara's Will Shortt scored on a fastbreak layup, but the Peacocks responded with a quick 3-pointer from Morgan Jr. to force a Niagara timeout. A layup from Sow cut the deficit to just three at 25-28 with 2:40 remaining. After the bucket, Saint Peter's didn't score for the rest of half.
The Peacocks trailed Niagara 25-32 heading into halftime. The Purple Eagles shot 50.0 percent (11-for-22) from the field in the first half while the Peacocks shot just 35.7 percent (10-for-28).
To start the second half,
Zaakir Williamson scored two layups to make it a four-point game, 31-35. Niagara came back on the other end with a quick 3-pointer. After the first media timeout, both teams traded 3s as the Purple Eagles led 43-35.
While the Peacocks trailed by 13,
Adetokunbo Bakare knocked down another shot from downtown as Saint Peter's called a timeout. A few minutes later, Niagara regained its 13-point lead on a second chance triple.
The Purple Eagles kept hitting their shots while locking up the Peacocks on the other end of the floor. They led by 18 points, 60-42, with just under six minutes to go. Saint Peter's couldn't manage a comeback and fell to Niagara by 10.
UP NEXT
The Peacocks play Canisius next on Sunday, Jan. 12 at 1 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
NOTES
Saint Peter's moves to 42-55 all-time against Niagara and 19-30 vs. the Purple Eagles on the road.
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