LOGAN, UT – The Saint Peter's College Peacocks (2-8) went the final 2:31 of the game without scoring and fell to the Kent State University Golden Flashes (8-1), 67-58. The Peacocks led 58-57 with 2:31 to play, but Kent State scored the final 10 points of the game to get the victory. Chris Prescott led Saint Peter's with 15 points.
Saint Peter's won the tip but quickly trailed 4-0. The Peacocks then trailed 7-4 when they went on a 7-1 run to take a 14-8 lead with 11:10 to play in the first half. Saint Peter's continued to extend the lead as they took an 18-10 lead at the 9:38 mark and 22-12 at the 7:20 mark. The Peacocks then went over three minutes without scoring a basket and let the Golden Flashes use a 14-1 run to take the lead back at 25-23 with 3:54 to play in the first half. The Peacocks came right back with five of their own to go up 28-25 and took the three-point cushion into the break, leading 34-31 at halftime.
Prescott, Darius Conley and Lamin Fulton each scored seven points to lead all-scorers. Justin Greene and Eric Gaines each scored six to lead Kent State. The Peacocks shot 52% from the field and held the Golden Flashes to 29%. Kent State won the board battle 24-15 and Saint Peter's committed 10 turnovers, while the Golden Flashes had eight.
Kent State quickly cut the deficit to one point, but a three-pointer by Prescott gave the Peacocks a 37-33 lead with 17:05 to play. Saint Peter's continued to hold the lead, but a 5-0 run by the Golden Flashes gave them a 43-40 lead with 13:42 to play. The Peacocks quickly tied the score and then regained the lead at 45-43 with 12:48 to play, but Randal Holt's three with 12:21 to go put Kent State up 46-45.
The Golden Flashes then went up four points at 49-45, but Saint Peter's used a 9-4 run to take the lead back at 56-53 with 5:30 to play. The Peacocks then led 58-57, but would not score again. Kent State ended the contest scoring 10 straight, including five points from the line to put the game away.
Prescott was 6-16 from the field and had two rebounds. Chris Burke added 11 points, six rebounds, three assists, two blocks and two steals, while Fulton scored 10 points. Conley finished with seven points, 14 rebounds, two assists and three blocks. Greene scored 13 points and had 10 rebounds to lead Kent State.
The Peacocks shot 41.8% from the field and held the Golden Flashes to 34.4%. Kent State controlled the boards 48-32, including 25 offensive rebounds. Saint Peter's turned the ball over 18 times and forced 15 turnovers.
Saint Peter's will face host Utah State tomorrow at 10pm EST on day two of the Athletes in Action Classic.
