Box Score After battling back from seven-point half-time deficit, the Saint Peter's men's basketball team was unable to maintain a six-point advantage and fell 61-55 to the reigning MAAC Champions, Loyola University, at the IZOD Center.
With the loss, Saint Peter's falls to 4-5 overall and an even 1-1 in MAAC play, while the Greyhounds improve to 8-3, 1-1 MAAC.
The Peacocks entered the half-time break trailing the Greyhounds 29-22, as Loyola closed out the frame with a 10-3 run. The stanza featured 5 tied scores and 10 lead changes, with neither team able to create separation. Prior to Loyola's run nearing the end of the stanza, the largest lead for either team was when the visitors (Loyola) jumped ahead by five (8-3) six minutes into the game.
Desi Washington paced the Peacocks in the opening frame, recording 7 points on 2-5 shooting. Washington went a perfect 3-3 from the line in the half. Saint Peter's shot just 33.3% from the floor, 40% from three-point range and 60% from the free throw line.
Loyola meanwhile connected on more than half of their field goal attempts (52.4%) and 66.7% of their three-point tries.
Saint Peter's came out of the half-time break determined; opening up the second stanza on a 13-0 run, paced by 7 points from senior guard Yvon Raymond. Loyola broke the spurt at the 15-minute mark, as Anthony Winbush connected on a layup.
Washington drained a trey on the following possession to reopen a seven-point advantage, but the visitors broke away on a 12-0 run to regain a five-point cushion (43-38) midway through the stanza.
Chris Burke nailed a trey off the feed from Blaise Ffrench less than a minute later to bring the Peacocks within two (43-41). That would be the closest Saint Peter's would get however, as Loyola was able to go in front by as many as nine (56-47) with four minutes remaining.
A jumper by Washington with 1:02 left to play made it a three-point game, until the Greyhounds went 3-4 from the line in the last minute of play to ice the win.
Desi Washington led the Peacocks with 18 points, and added 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 steals. Darius Conley also finished in double-figures, with 12 points on 4-8 shooting.
The Greyhounds were led by Anthony Winbush's 16 points. Dylon Cormier contributed 15 points for Loyola, while Franz Rassman finished with 13.
Overall, Saint Peter's shot 38.8% from the field, 26.7% from long distance and 59.1% from the line. Loyola shot 46/5%, 37.5 and 69.2%, respectively.
The Peacocks were out-rebounded by a 61-55 margin and committed just 10 turnovers while forcing 14.
Saint Peter's will enter a near two-week break, with their next game scheduled on December 19th against Long Island University-Brooklyn. Tipoff is scheduled for 7pm in the Yanitelli Center.
