Courtesy of SaintPetersPeacocks.com.
PISCATAWAY, N.J. — In their first game of the 2012-13 season, the Saint Peter’s University men’s basketball team (1-0) came away with a 56-52 victory over Rutgers University (0-1) at the Rutgers Athletic Center. This marks just the third time that the Peacocks have defeated Scarlet Knights in 14 match ups. The Peacocks last win over RU came during the 2007-08 season.
“It’s a tremendous win for us, it’s a tremendous win for our whole community,” stated head coach John Dunne following the victory.
Before tonight, the Peacocks had dropped five straight season openers under Dunne.
This is also the first win for Saint Peter’s over a BCS school since beating Alabama in the 2010 Paradise Jam.
Saint Peter’s was able to come back from a seven-point deficit in the second half, highlighted by a three-point field goal by senior guard Yvon Raymond with 30 seconds remaining to give the Peacocks their first lead since the 16:11 mark.
Three players finished in double-figures for Saint Peter’s, led by Desi Washington‘s 18 points. Sophomore Markese Tucker finished second in scoring with 11 points, while Darius Conleyadded 10.
In the first half, the game remained scoreless for the first minute and a half of play, until Raymond found Preseason All-MAAC Third Team selection Darius Conley under the basket for first two points by either team. Just over a minute later, with the shot clock winding down, Desi Washington connected on an and-1 two point basket to extend the visitors’ lead to 5-0.
Rutgers started off the game cold, managing just two shot attempts to head into the first media timeout, both which were unsuccessful. The Scarlet Knights connected on their first basket over five minutes into the opening stanza to get within three (5-2), but sophomore forward Marquese Tucker responded on the other end with a 17-foot jump shot to make the score 7-2.
Saint Peter’s would commit 3 turnovers over the following three plus minutes, but were able to cling to a two-point advantage nearing the halfway mark of the frame. Jerome Seagears tied the game (7-7) for the first time at 9:32 connecting on both free throws of a one-and-one. Conley regained the lead for the Peacocks 14 seconds later, until Rutgers tied it up again on a layup by Mike Poole (9-9).
In the eighth minute Rutger’s Wally Judge gave the hosts their first lead of the game, connecting on a layup and sinking a free throw after drawing the foul. The Scarlet Knights forced Head Coach John Dunne to call a timeout, after scoring again on their following possession (14-9).
Chris Prescott came off the bench to drain a trey at the left wing, but a put-back dunk off a missed shot by Dane Miller put the Scarlet Knights ahead 16-12 to cap a 7-2 run (7:05).
A tip in from Raymond on a Washington miss brought Saint Peter’s within two just after the under-eight media timeout. Raymond did however miss the opportunity to tie up the contest, going 1-2 from the line at 5:22 to make the score 16-15.
A 15-foot jumper from Conley off the inbound pass brought Saint Peter’s back within one heading into the under-four media timeout, until Judge hit a step-back jumper right after the intermission to put the Scarlet Knights up 20-17.
Washington soon drained a long trifecta from the top of the key with 55 seconds on the clock to tie the game at 22-22- the first time the Peacocks had tied the score since 9:07.
Rutgers missed the opportunity to head into the half-time break with a three-point lead, as a three-point attempt by Dane Miller rimmed out.
For the half, the Peacocks out-shot Rutgers 36% to 29.2%. The Peacocks went 9-25 from the floor and 2-10 from beyond the arc. Washington recorded 12 of his 18 points in the opening frame.
The second half began with Dane Miller converting on a layup to give the hosts a brief two-point lead, but a trey from Washington put the Peacocks up one at 25-24. A fast break layup by Blaise Ffrench off a missed field goal gave Saint Peter’s their first three-point advantage since the ninth minute of the first half (27-24).
Saint Peter’s led by as many as five points (29-25) two minutes into the second stanza, until the Scarlet Knights established an 8-2 run to jump in front 32-31 and force a Peacock timeout.
Rutgers took a three-point lead in the twelfth minute, following an offensive board and put back layup by Austin Johnson. The Scarlet Knights were able to extend the lead to seven after a three-pointer by Myles Mack (10:27).
A long three from Washington in transition made the score 42-38 (9:38) and forced Rutgers Head Coach Mike Rice to call a timeout. The Peacocks fell behind by six for the second time of the stanza after Wally Judge went 2-2 from the line.
Washington soon took control of the game, taking the ball to the hoop at 7:04 for a layup following a steal and cutting the Rutgers lead to 4. He proceeded to come up with another steal on the following possession, passing off the ball to point guard Ffrench who found Tucker under the basket for an easy two points (46-44).
The Peacocks missed a critical chance to tie the game at 46-46, as Raymond missed both free throws and Rutgers followed up with a made field goal on the other end (48-44). A quick pass by Ffrench to Tucker in the paint made it a two-point game (48-46) just before the final media timeout of the game.
Saint Peter’s came up with a huge stop following the intermission, forcing a Rutgers turnover as the hosts’ shot clock expired.
Free throws again proved critical for the Peacocks, as Tucker was fouled on the other end of the floor and missed both attempts from the charity stripe.
A two-point basket by Raymond at 1:59 knotted the score at 48-48 and forced another Rutgers timeout.
Rutgers regained their lead at 1:32 as Judge made one of two free throws after Raymond was called for his fourth foul of the game.
Raymond came through again for the Peacocks, with a three pointer from Ffrench at 1:09, to put the visitors ahead 51-49. With 30.5 seconds remaining on the clock, a poised Tucker would hit one of two free throws to go ahead by three 52-49.
The hosts missed back to back layups, but Austin Johnson managed to draw a foul to go to the line to attempt to cut Saint Peter’s lead. Johnson would miss and Peacock freshmanElias Desport proceeded to draw a foul and make both ends of a one-and-one to give the visitors a three-point cushion (54-51) with 15 seconds left.
Eli Carter drained a three in desperation to trim the lead to 54-52, but Washington sealed the deal with two free throws with 3.8 on the clock.
Washington added 6 rebounds and 3 steals to go along with his 18 points. Blaise Ffrench finished the game with a game-high 9 assists and also contributed 4 points, 1 steal and 2 rebounds.
Raymond finished with 8 points on 3-5 shooting and also dished out 3 assists while coming away with 2 steals.
Overall, Saint Peter’s finished with a 45.7% shooting percentage. The Peacocks shot 31.3% from three-point range. Rutgers shot 35.7% from the field and 15.4% from long distance.
Saint Peter’s were out-rebounded by a 43-22 margin.
The Peacocks return to action this Monday, for their first home contest of the year against Central Connecticut State at 7pm.
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