Games 5/6
Saint Peter's (2-2, 0-0 MAAC) vs. Niagara (0-1, 0-0 MAAC)
Date: Friday- Saturday, Dec. 11-12
Time: 8 p.m.
Location: John Moore Athletics Center, Jersey City, NJ
ESPN3: Friday /
Saturday
LIVE STATS
GAME NOTES
Opening Tip
- The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference slate tips for Saint Peter's this weekend with a home series against Niagara University at the John Moore Athletics Center in Jersey City.
- The Peacocks and Purple Eagles will link up on Friday (Dec. 11) and Saturday (Dec. 12) at 8 p.m., under the revised league schedule format which was announced by the MAAC on Nov. 16 due to COVID-19.
- Saint Peter's is coming off of a 90-57 setback at Maryland Friday afternoon, a meeting the team accepted on short notice just two days prior, following the cancellation of Maryland's game with its original opponent George Mason due to a positive COVID-19 test from a Mason player.
- Sophomore guard Daryl Banks III was the lone Peacock to score in double-figures, recording a team-high 11 points to go along with two boards, one assist and one steal.
- Fousseyni Drame and KC Ndefo each scored nine points to follow, with the former grabbing a team-best six rebounds and the latter leading the way defensively with three steals and a pair of blocks.
- The Peacocks are aiming to stay unbeaten at home this season, holding a 1-0 mark in Jersey City behind an 82-68 win over Stony Brook on Dec. 1.
- Niagara visits New Jersey with just one game under its belt, a 75-45 defeat at the hands of ACC foe, Syracuse.
Things to Know Before the MAAC Opening Series
Series History
- Friday's and Saturday's engagements will be the 89th and 90th all-time meetings between Saint Peter's and Niagara.
- Dating back to 1937, the Peacocks are behind in the series 36-52, and trail 22-39 in MAAC meetings against the Purple Eagles since 1989-90 when the Western New York institution joined the conference.
- In 2019-20, the team's split the season series, with the home team defending their court.
- On Jan. 26, the Peacocks earned a 58-53 win in the Yanitelli Center, while Niagara posted a 63-54 victory on Feb. 27 at home.
- Saint Peter's will look to sweep a season series against Niagara for the second time under Shaheen Holloway, having also done so during his inaugural season in 2018-19.
- The Peacocks have not lost in Jersey City to the Purple Eagle since January of 2017 and the team has won four out of the last five meetings when playing host.
Launching into League Play
- Charter MAAC member Saint Peter's is seeking its third MAAC Regular season crown and fourth MAAC Championship title in 2020-21 following a historic, curtailed 2019-20.
- The Peacocks are coming off of a program-tying 14-6 league campaign, holding an all-time MAAC tally of 298-348, with 20 total seasons above .500.
- In conference openers, Saint Peter's is 21-18 all-time and 8-10 when beginning MAAC action at home.
- Under Holloway, the Peacocks are a perfect 2-0 in conference openers, having topped Siena (2018-19) and Iona (2019-20) the previous two seasons.
Next Up
- Saint Peter's will open its MAAC away schedule with a series at hOURglass Rival Monmouth University next weekend, Dec. 18-19. Both contests will tip at 5 p.m. in the OceanFirst Bank Center in West Long Branch, NJ. The 2020-21 schedule, however, remains fluid and additional games remain a possibility and will be announced in the near future.
