Box Score A 15-0 first half Loyola run proved to be the difference, as the Peacocks dropped a 74-58 decision on the road this afternoon to the Defending MAAC Champs. With the loss, the Greyhounds (11-5, 3-1 MAAC) sweep the season series after picking up a 61-55 against Saint Peter's (6-8, 1-3 MAAC) at the IZOD Center on December 8th.
Saint Peter's trailed by as many as 11 points early on, but managed to cut the deficit to 2 mid-way through the half. The Peacocks proceeded to miss their next two field goal attempts however; preventing them from knotting the score, or taking the lead.
Loyola soon regained a comfortable lead after tallying fifteen consecutive points and maintained a double-digit advantage for the remainder of the contest.
The Peacocks finished with their second lowest shooting percentage of the year, 35.1%; connecting on just 7-28 first half field goal attempts. Overall, they managed to make 20-57 shots.
Senior guard Yvon Raymond led the team in scoring for the second time this year, finishing with 16 points. Darius Conley also finished in double-figures for the Peacocks; contributing 11 points on 4-7 shooting.
The Peacocks opened up the game struggling offensively, missing their first four field goal attempts, until senior guard Yvon Raymond sank a layup at 17:20 to bring the visitors within three (5-2).
Saint Peter's soon found themselves in a nine-point deficit after a 7-0 run by the Greyhounds nearing the fifteen-minute mark. The hosts extended their spurt to nine consecutive points, until Markese Tucker drained two free throws at 13:50 to make the score 14-5.
That would spark a 6-0 run for the Peacocks, who scored all their points from the charity stripe. Saint Peter's would soon be within five (14-9), but a three-ball by Robert Olson put Loyola in front by 8 (11:57).
The Peacocks went just 2-11 in the first nine minutes of play to enter the under-twelve media timeout trailing the Greyhounds 17-11. Both of the visitors' field goals were netted by Raymond, who paced the hosts with 6 points during that time. The remainder of Saint Peter's markers came from the charity stripe, as they went 7-8 from the line during that time.
With eleven minutes left to play in the half, Desi Washington knocked down two free throws to bring the Peacocks within two (17-15), and extend Saint Peter's near-perfect performance from the line (9-10).
Loyola soon exploded for a 15-0 run, capped by two free throws by Anthony Winbush, to go in front 32-15 and establish their largest lead of the half (17 points @ 6:44).
The Peacocks failed to connect on any of their ten field goal attempts during the eight minute scoring drought. They also missed two free throws (Desport, 0-2) during the spurt.
Two made free throws by freshman Elias Desport broke the Greyhound tear at 3:18. Raymond came up with a steal on the following possession and threw down a one-handed dunk to make it a thirteen-point game (32-19).
The Greyhounds went into the half-time break leading the Peacocks by thirteen (39-26).
Saint Peter's shot just 25% in the half (7-28), while the hosts shot 59.1% (13-22).
Loyola opened up the second stanza outscoring the visitors by a 16-10 margin to establish their largest lead of the game (19 points) at 11:50. The Peacocks were able to chip away and eventually form a 6-0 run to get within 13, following a drive and lay-up by Raymond (57-44; 9:04).
Two minutes later, a two-point basket by Chris Burke cut the deficit two twelve; the closest the hosts had been since the 17:58 mark (40-28). A jumper by Etherly on the following possession however expanded the host's advantage to fourteen (61-47).
Saint Peter's got as close as eleven points following a turn-around jumper in the paint by Blaise Ffrench with 4:55 remaining, but the visitors were unable to crack single digits in the remaining minutes.
Overall, the Peacocks shot 35.1% from the floor, 11.1% from beyond the arc and 60.7% from the line.
After going 11-14 (78.6%) from the charity stripe in the first half, Saint Peter's connected on just 6-14 attempts in the closing frame (42.9%).
Loyola shot 49%, 50% and 81.8%, respectively. The hosts out-rebounded the visitors by a 74-58 margin.
Both teams committed 11 turnovers in the game.
Chris Burke led the Peacocks with 9 boards.
The Greyhounds had three players in double-figures; Erik Etherly (24), Dylon Cormier (18), Dylon Olson (17).
Saint Peter's returns to action this Friday, as they host Niagara at 7pm.
