MINNEAPOLIS, MN – A career-high 20 points by Darius Conley was not enough as the Saint Peter's College Peacocks (2-6) fell to the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers (10-1) this afternoon, 69-47. The Peacocks trailed by just 10 with 9:24 to play but Minnesota used an 18-4 run to end the game and held the Peacocks scoreless for 5:33 during the run.
Minnesota won the tip and hit a pair of three pointers to take a quick 6-0 lead. Conley then scored four straight and trailed 8-6 at the first media timeout. The Peacocks continued to keep the game close and trailed 10-9 with 14:28 to play, but four straight by the Golden Gophers gave them a 14-9 lead. The Peacocks got within three points at 19-16, but a 6-0 run by Minnesota gave the Golden Gophers a 25-16 lead with 5:50 to play. Minnesota held the margin and took a 34-23 lead into the break.
Conley led all scorers with 13 points on 6-9 from the field and two rebounds. Julian Welch scored 10 points for Minnesota. The Peacocks shot 45.5% from the field, but allowed Minnesota to shoot 54.5%. The Golden Gophers outrebounded the Peacocks 12-10 and forced nine turnovers while committing just six.
The Peacocks came out of the break and immediately cut the deficit to eight points at 35-27, but six straight points by the Golden Gophers put their advantage at 16 points, 43-27 with 15:28 to play. Saint Peter's trimmed to deficit down to 11 points twice in the next six minutes and then to 10 points at 51-41 with 9:24 to play. That's when Minnesota started their run and held the Peacocks scoreless from the 7:43 mark to the 2:20 mark and put the game out of reach.
Conley was 8-15 from the field with seven rebounds and two blocks. Chris Prescott added 12 points and four assists. Ralph Sampson III led Minnesota with 15 points and eight rebounds. Saint Pete's was held to less than 40% from the field, while the Golden Gophers shot more that 46%. The Peacocks were outrebounded 38-26 and committed 18 turnovers while forcing just 11.
Saint Peter's will have six days off before returning to action on Saturday, December 17th for a match-up with defending NEC Champion Long Island in Brooklyn, NY. Tip-off slated for 2pm.
