JERSEY CITY, N.J. – The Canisius College men’s basketball team outscored Saint Peter’s by a 13-3 count over a span of 1:19 in the closing moments of the game, but it was not enough to lift the Golden Griffins to victory as the host Peacocks defeated the Blue and Gold 65-61 Thursday night in the Yanitelli Center in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action. The win snapped Saint Peter’s losing streak at eight and improved the team to 3-12 overall and 2-2 in MAAC play, while Canisius slipped to 3-11 overall and 0-4 in conference action.
The Griffs trailed by a score of 59-48 with 2:10 left in the contest, but trimmed the score to 62-61 with a furious rally that featured 13 points by junior Harold Washington. Washington got the scoring run started with a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 1:44 left on the clock, and then he added jumper and four-straight free-throws to make the score 61-57 with 49 seconds left in regulation time. Saint Peter’s made one of two free-throws moments later to push the score to 62-57, but Washington made lay-ups on back-to-back possessions to make the score 62-61 with 25 seconds left. After Saint Peter’s guard Brandon Hall hit two at the charity stripe to make the score 64-61, the Griffs had a chance to knot the game with four seconds left, but a 3-point attempt fell short and Saint Peter’s was able to secure the win.
For Canisius, junior Alshwan Hymes had a game-high 15 points, all in the second half, after he went 5-for-11 from the field, 1-for-5 from 3-point land and 2-for-3 from the free-throw line. Washington chipped in 14 points, all in the second half as well, while junior Gaby Belardo was good for 13 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals. Sophomore Chris Manhertz had a team-high 11 rebounds in the loss for the Griffs, who shot 37.9 percent from the field, 30 percent from long range and 68.8 percent from the free-throw line on the night.
Freshman Lamin Fulton posted a team-high 14 points for the Peacocks, who shot 42.9 percent from the floor, 31.6 percent from 3-point range and 52.4 percent from the charity stripe. Guard Chris Prescott chipped in 12 points in the victory, while Chris Burke registered nine points and 11 rebounds.
“I thought we gave a really good effort down the stretch, but obviously this game was not lost in the closing minutes of the game,” Canisius head coach Tom Parrotta said. “We had some open looks in the first half that we were not able to convert and we had a few turnovers creep back into things that hurt as well. When we had our backs to the wall and we battled, but we just were not able to get over the hump.”
The Griffs will close out their three-game MAAC road swing Saturday, Jan. 7 when the team plays at Loyola (Md.). Tipoff in Baltimore is set for noon.
Game Notes: This was the 66th all-time meeting between the two Jesuit schools, with Canisius holding a 36-30 lead in the series… The Peacocks have now won five-straight at home in this series… Belardo returned to the starting lineup for the first time since the team played at UNLV Nov. 17… Washington’s 14 points gives him double figures in the scoring column in all 14 games this year… Manhertz is averaging 12.5 rebounds per game in four MAAC contests this season… Hymes has now hit at least one 3-point field goal in 50 games through his career… Sophomore Reggie Groves played in his 50th career game Thursday night.
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