INDIANAPOLIS (March 14, 2022) - After a historic run that ended in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament title for the first time since the 2010-11 season, the Saint Peter's University men's basketball team was selected as the #15 seed in the East Region for the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament and will head to Indianapolis to take on the second-seeded University of Kentucky in the opening round.
The Peacocks will face off with the Wildcats for the first time in program history at 7:10 p.m. on CBS.
It is the fourth appearance in the NCAA Tournament for SPU after previously appearing in 1990-91, 1994-95 and 2010-11. The Peacocks are a #15 seed for the second time in program history after previously earning a #12 seed in the 1991 tournament and a #14 seed in 2011.
SPU makes its appearance in the tournament by virtue of winning the MAAC Tournament title Saturday. The Peacocks defeated #7 Fairfield 77-63 in the quarterfinal, #11 Quinnipiac 64-52 in the semifinal and #4 Monmouth 60-54 in the title game.
Senior KC Ndefo led the Peacocks throughout the tournament to earn MVP honors after averaging 13.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.3 blocks per game across the three games. Juniors Matthew Lee and Doug Edert joined Ndefo on the All-Tournament teams.
The Wildcats come into the contest 26-7 overall and were ranked No. 5 overall in the latest AP Poll. They are led by junior Oscar Tshiebwe who is averaging 17.0 points and 15.1 rebounds per game this season. Tshiebwe leads the nation in double-doubles and rebounding for Kentucky this season.
If Saint Peter's defeats Kentucky, the Peacocks would face the winner of the #7 Murray State (30-2) and #10 San Francisco (24-9). SPU is 0-3 against San Francisco all-time and has never faced off against Murray State in program history.
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