Courtesy of SaintPetersPeacocks.com
NEW ROCHELLE, NY — With the shot clock expiring and 4.5 seconds left on the game clock, Blaise Ffrench connected on a running jumper in the lane to propel the Peacocks to a 64-62 victory over the Iona College Gaels. With the win, the Peacocks open up MAAC play with a 1-0 record and improve to .500 overall (4-4), while the Gaels fall to 3-3, 1-1 MAAC.
The Peacocks managed to come back from a ten-point half-time deficit, paced by 14 second-half points by Ffrench.
Iona led by as many as 11 points in the opening stanza, until the Peacocks chipped away at the deficit and took a one-point advantage at the 5:23 mark of the second half. Iona quickly recaptured the lead, but the Peacocks forced two tied scores until a three-point play by Darius Conley put Saint Peter’s in front 62-60. Momo Jones tied the score at 62, until Ffrench netted the game-winner with four ticks remaining.
Ffrench tied with Darius Conley for the team-high in points, as they each contributed 17 points. Desi Washington added 15 to follow up his 32-point performance against Boston this past Saturday.
The win marks the first time since the 2011 MAAC Championship final that the Peacocks have defeated the Gaels. Saint Peter’s had dropped 5 of their last 6 contests against the Gaels; their lone win being the 62-57 victory that gave the Peacocks’ their first MAAC title since the 1994-95 season.
The Peacocks opened up the game with a 4-1 advantage early on, until a three-ball from Sean Armand tied the game. Saint Peter’s clung to a one-point lead (6-5) heading into the first official time out of the half, and extended their advantage to four immediately following the intermission via a trey by Ffrench.
The hosts maintained a lead until the 12:18 mark, when a jumper in the paint by Armand put the Gaels in front 12-11. Saint Peter’s regained their advantage over twenty seconds later, via a five-point run, capped by a three-ball form the left wing by Chris Prescott (16-12).
Iona entered the under-eight media time-out on a 7-0 spurt however, to give them a 19-16 lead. The visitors went ahead by as many as 9 (25-16) going into the last official time-out, extending their run to 13 straight points dating back to the 7:47 mark. Washington broke the Peacock scoring drought with a two-point basket at 2:13.
Saint Peter’s cut the deficit to seven following a layup by Chris Bruke, and went into the half-time break trailing 31-21.
The Peacocks shot just 25.9% in the stanza, 20% from long distance, while the Gaels shot 36.4%, 37.5%, respectively. Conley had 5 first half points, while Yvon Raymond and Washington had 4 a piece.
Washington and Ffrench combined for all twelve Peacock points to open the second stanza, and bring the Peacocks within three (36-33) for the first time since the seventh minute of the first frame. Washington connected on two treys, while Ffrench added six points, all one two-point jumpers.
A long three from NBA range by Washington with a defender in his face at 11:52 knotted the score at 38-38 and forced Iona Head Coach Tim Cluess to burn a timeout. The game would remain tied, until back-to-back turnovers by the hosts led to easy transition layups by the Gaels and a 44-40 lead nearing the ten-minute mark.
The Gaels jumped in front by 8 (50-42), untilFfrench converted a conventional three point play to break a two-minute scoring drought.
Again, the Peacocks clawed their way back into a one-possession game following a layup off the drive by Raymond at 6:41 (50-47). Less than a minute later, Ffrench would drive the lane and lay in a two-point basket of his own to bring the Peacocks within one (52-51) with 5:38 remaining in the stanza.
Burke gave Dunne’s squad their first lead since mid-way through the first half by draining one of two free throws (5:23).
Three lead changes and two tied scores took place before Head Coach John Dunne called a timeout with just under a minute remaining in regulation. After which, Conley connected on a layup and drew the foul. The senior completed the three-point play to put the Peacocks ahead 62-60, but Momo Jones immediately responded on the other end to tie the score, before Ffrench closed out the win.
Saint Peter’s shot 51.5% in the first half, to bring their overall percentage to 40%. They also connected on half of their three point field goal attempts in the second stanza to conclude the game with an overall 31.3%.
Iona shot 39.3% from the floor for the game, 43.5% from long distance.
Both teams grabbed 36 boards and committed 17 turnovers in the contest.
Conley scored 12 of his 17 points in the second half, while Washington registered 11 of his 15 in the last stanza as well.
The Gaels also had three players in double figures; Armand (19), Tavon Sledge (13) and Jones (11).
Saint Peter’s returns to action this Saturday, as they host Loyola in the IZOD Center in the front-end of a double header that features Duke-Temple in the nightcap. Tipoff for the Peacocks’ game is 12pm.
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