Box Score Despite leading for the majority of regulation, the Saint Peter's University men's basketball team (5-6) was unable to maintain their advantage, and fell to the Loyola-Chicago Ramblers (8-3), 54-49, this afternoon.
Free-throw shooting proved to be the difference, particularly down the stretch, as the Peacocks shot just 31.6% from the line (6-19) overall. The hosts went 1-7 from the line in the final five minutes of play, while the Ramblers went 4-6 from the charity stripe in the last 40 seconds alone.
Yvon Raymond led the Peacocks with a career-high 17 points, going 7-12 from the field, while adding 7 rebounds, 4 steals and 3 assists.
The Peacocks' leading scorer, Desi Washington, was held to just 7 points (3-13).
Both teams started off the opening frame struggling offensively, combining for just ten points at the under-twelve media timeout. Back-to-back layups in transition by senior guard Yvon Raymond gave the Peacocks their first lead (8-6) nearing the mid-way point (10:10).
Three lead changes would take place, before the Peacocks went on a 7-0 run to establish a six-point advantage (17-11), capped by a 15-foot jumper from Markese Tucker (1:58). During the run, the Ramblers were 0-4 from the floor.
Loyola-Chicago broke their six-minute scoring drought with sixty-four ticks remaining following two made free-throws by Ben Averkamp. A three at the buzzer by Jeff White brought the visitors within one to head into the half-time break trailing 17-16.
For the half, the Peacocks were led by Raymond's 6 points. As a team, Saint Peter's shot just 27.3% from the floor and failed to connect on a three-point attempt (0-3).
Loyola shot 25% in the stanza and also failed to connect from long distance.
The Peacocks were able to re-open a seven-point advantage four minutes into the second stanza to lead 29-22 at the under-16 official time.
At 13:38, Raymond went 1-2 from the line to put the Peacocks in front 32-24; their largest lead till that point. Just over a minute later, the Peacocks forced a Rambler timeout, as Chris Burke came up with a steal and proceeded to throw down a one-hand slam (34-26).
Saint Peter's established their largest lead (11; 37-26) at 11:10.
A layup by Christian Thomas at 10:09 brought the Ramblers within six (37-31). Thomas would later convert a conventional three-point play at 8:30 to make it a three-point game (39-36), until a drive by Raymond on the other end reopened a five-point advantage for the hosts.
The Peacocks were unable to maintain a comfortable lead, as the visitors fought back to come within a single digit (44-43) following an and-one layup and made free throw by Devon Turk.
Desi Washington had the chance to create a four-point lead, but his three-point attempt from the right wing rimmed in and out at 2:13.
A two-point basket by Loyola's Joe Crisman gave the Ramblers their first lead (45-44) since half-way through the opening frame with exactly two minutes to go.
Loyola-Chicago extended their lead to two after Cully Payne converted one of two free throws at 1:18.
Raymond proceeded to tie the game at 46-46, as he drove the lane and converted a layup following a Peacock timeout (1:07).
Loyola would go 4-6 from the line in the final forty seconds however to seal the win.
The Peacocks single marker came from a made free-throw by Blaise Ffrench with 25 seconds remaining.
Overall, Saint Peter's shot 38.9% from the floor, 12.5% from three-point range and 31.6% from the line. The Ramblers shot 36.6%, 10% and 74.2%, respectively.
Loyola-Chicago out-rebounded Saint Peter's by a 54-49 margin and committed 16 turnovers to the Peacocks' 9.
The Ramblers were led by Ben Averkamp's 17 points. Averkamp went a perfect 13-13 form the charity stripe. Joe Crisman also finished in double-figures for the visitors, recording 12 points.
Saint Peter's returns to action on December 29th, as they travel to New Britain, CT to face off against the CCSU Blue Devils at 1pm.
