Box Score An 11-0 run mid-way through the second half brought the Saint Peter's University (2-0) men's basketball team back from a ten-point deficit and paved the way for a 64-61 victory against Central Connecticut State (0-2) in the 2012-13 home opener.
"Just like at Rutgers on Friday, I think we had good mental toughness down the stretch, as well as good execution and defensive focus", commented Head Coach John Dunne following the victory. "The guys are feeling good and they should be. We got the win and we're happy we did. I'm glad we got our crowd a win tonight."
Sophomore Desi Washington went 9-14 from the field, 3-4 from three-point range, en route to a 23-point night. He also finished with 7 rebounds. Washington's two-point basket at 8:19 gave the Peacocks their first lead of the game since mid-way through the opening frame.
Yvon Raymond helped the cause with 16 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists. The senior's layup with 2:17 remaining in the game broke a tie and established a lead the hosts would never relinquish.
Saint Peter's opened up the game leading 11-6 (13:44) but the Blue Devils went on a 8-0 run over the next three and a half minutes to jump in front 14-11. The Peacocks were unable to connect on a field goal for over five minutes, until a floater in the lane by Yvon Raymond made the score 14-13 (8:55).
Central Connecticut extended their lead to 18-13, as Matt Hunger drove past two Peacock defenders and sank a layup at 5:41.
Desi Washington made it a three-point game on the following possession, sinking a two pointer off the backboard in transition, but the visitors responded with a field goal of their own on the other end to regain a five-point advantage. CCSU opened up an eight-point lead (25-17) with 3:11 remaining in the frame on a three-ball from the top of the key by Kyle Vinales to force a Saint Peter's timeout.
The Blue Devils soon established their largest lead of the half (30-19), but a trey by Washington brought the hosts within eight with 1:09 remaining.
CCSU finished the frame with a 46.7% shooting percentage, to head into the half-time break leading 32-24. Despite trailing, the Peacocks did shoot 52.4% following the conclusion of the first the stanza, and were led by Washington's 10 points on a perfect 4-4 first half shooting performance.
Saint Peter's was able to cut the eight-point half-time deficit down to three, four minutes into the second half, but the visitors quickly reestablished a nine-point cushion.
At 14:01, junior Chris Burke would grab the rebound off his own missed shot, and find Markese Tucker under the basket for an easy layup (42-35). Saint Peter's was unable to build on that play, as the Blue Devils pushed the ball up the court and sank a layup of their own to go ahead by ten (45-35) and force Head Coach John Dunne to call a time out (13:28).
Both team exchanged baskets over the following minutes, but the Peacocks exploded for an 11-0 run that featured a trey by Raymond from Ffrench that brought the hosts within 5 (47-44).
Following the trifecta, the Blue Devils proceeded to miss a jumper on their possession, and transfer Pat Jackson was able to convert a conventional three-point play after being fouled on a made layup. CCSU's Adonis Burbage was called for a technical foul, after which Washington went 1-2 from the line to make the score 47-45 (10:16).
Raymond had the opportunity to tie the game for the first time since mid-way through the first stanza, but sank just one of two free throw attempts to make it a one-point game at 8:42 (47-46).
Washington gave the Peacocks their first lead (48-47) since the 11:27 mark of the first half, on a bank-shot 15-foot jumper off the feet from Raymond with 7:45 to go. The Blue Devils regained their lead just over a minute later on a three-point basket by Terrell Allen, but Washington scored another jumper to tie the game at 50-50 (6:48).
Raymond went 1-2 to tie the game at 53-53, and proceeded to come up with a steal and assist on Darius Conely's layup with 3:48 remaining to put the Peacocks in front 55-53.
Two made free throws by Jose Esefe tied the score again, until a basket by Raymond put Saint Peter's ahead by two with just over two minutes left. Washington extended the advantage to four with a trey just as the shot clock expired (1:24).
A layup on the right block by Darius Conley from Elias Desport gave Saint Peter's a 63-58 lead with 27 seconds remaining. The Blue Devils added three points in the final nine seconds but were not able to successfully complete the comeback.
Overall, the Peacocks shot 48.2% from the floor and kept the visitors to a 38.2% shooting percentage. Saint Peter's outrebounded CCSU 63-61, but committed two more turnovers in the contest (19-17).
Markese Tucker also recorded double-figure points in the victory, contributing 10 points (5-6) off the bench. Senior guard Blaise Ffrench dished out 7 assists and added 4 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals.
The Blue Devils were led by Kyle VInales 24 points.
Saint Peter's returns to action this Friday, November 16th. They will face Cornell on the road at 8pm.
