JERSEY CITY, N.J. – The Saint Peter's men's basketball team (4-4, 2-0 MAAC) picked up its second conference win of the season on Sunday at Run Baby Run Arena, defeating Niagara (2-7, 0-2 MAAC) by a final score of 71-43. The Peacocks dominated from start to finish and ended the game shooting 47.3 percent from the field and 40.0 percent from 3.
The Peacocks also had a great showing on defense as they racked up 13 steals and forced 18 Niagara turnovers. Saint Peter's turned those Niagara mistakes into 19 points off turnovers. For the first time this season, SPU outrebounded its opponent as the Peacocks totaled 31 boards compared to 29 from the Purple Eagles.
Bryce Eaton and
TJ Robinson each recorded 14 points while
Brent Bland and
Jahki Gupton each recorded 10. Eaton also led the team with six assists while shooting 50.0 percent (6-for-12) from the field.
Zaakir Williamson neared a double-double statline with eight points and a team-high nine rebounds. He also had two steals in his 28 minutes of playing time.
With the win, Saint Peter's snapped its three-game losing streak against Niagara.
HOW IT HAPPENED
FIRST HALF: Saint Peter's came out of the gates swinging, building a 10-0 lead to open the game with Eaton scoring half the points. Niagara called a timeout to talk things over and scored its first points of the game coming out of the break. With under nine minutes to go in the first half, Bland put the Peacocks up 19-8 with a made 3-pointer. Another made 3, this time by
Jahki Gupton, extended SPU's run to 12-0, as the Peacocks held a commanding 26-8 lead. As the game progressed, Saint Peter's continued to keep the pressure on the Purple Eagles, leading 32-19 at halftime.
SECOND HALF: The second half started with each team scoring seven points over the first four-and-a-half minutes. After a media timeout, the Purple Eagles knocked down two free throws, cutting it to an 11-point deficit. Nine unanswered points by the Peacocks put them up 51-32 with 8:34 remaining in regulation. Saint Peter's held Niagara to 24 second-half points as the Peacocks won, 71-43.
UP NEXT
The Peacocks finish up their nonconference schedule over the next couple of weeks, playing Georgetown on Saturday, Dec. 13 and Centenary (N.J.) on Dec. 22.
NOTES
Saint Peter's moves to 43-56 all-time vs. Niagara and 22-26 against the Purple Eagles at home…Saint Peter's snapped a three-game losing streak to the Purple Eagles…the Peacocks outrebounded their opponent for the first time this season, 31-to-29…Saint Peter's had its best 3-point shooting game this year, converting 40.0 percent of its shots from behind the arc.
