Saint Peter's University Athletics had some incredible moments on the playing surface this past academic year and put together a series of incredible moments that instilled great pride.
To honor the phenomenal student-athletes and all they accomplished in 2021-22, in the month of July, the athletics department will look back at some of the most memorable moments every Tuesday and Thursday.
Setting the Scene
The Saint Peter's men's basketball program had the most historic run in the history of Saint Peter's athletics in March of 2022, winning the 2022 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Tournament title and advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2011. After winning the championship, the Peacocks would go on to face off against #2 Kentucky, #7 Murray State and #3 Purdue in the NCAA Tournament, becoming the first #15 seed in NCAA Tournament history to advance to the Elite Eight.
Taking Down Kentucky
- Led by phenomenal efforts from juniors Daryl Banks III and Doug Edert on the biggest stage imaginable, the Peacocks earned arguably the biggest win in program history -- in overtime, no less -- by way of its stunning 85-79 victory over heavily favored second-seeded and eight-time national champion Kentucky in the 2022 NCAA Championship's opening round at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The bracket-busting decision, which was the program's first NCAA Tournament win in four tries, catapulted the Peacocks into the national spotlight and can safely claim the status as the darlings of the 2022 national tournament.
- Banks III finished the contest with a career-high 27 points and Edert dropped 20 for the second straight game, including a pair of huge 3-pointers down the stretch, as the Peacocks stunned the Wildcats in front of a raucous crowd. The Peacocks advanced to the NCAA Championship's Second Round on Saturday (March 19), where they would battle seventh-seeded Murray State with a trip to the Sweet 16 at stake.
- Tied 37-37 at half and 71-71 at the end of regulation, the Peacocks outscored the Wildcats 14-8 in the overtime period and closed the contest on a 14-4 run to reach the 20-win milestone for the first time since 2017 when SPU won the CollegeInsider.com Tournament title. The Peacocks also won eight straight games for the first time since the 1994-95 season when they won nine consecutive contests to start the season 9-1.
- Banks III was on fire in the first half, scoring 16 in the opening stanza to keep SPU in it without three-time Defensive Player of the Year KC Ndefo on the court after picking up two fouls in the first two minutes of game action.
- Much like he did in the MAAC Championship contest, it was Edert who knocked down clutch shots down the stretch at the end of regulation and overtime to hand Kentucky just their second opening round defeat in the last 27 chances for the Wildcats.
Strutting into the Sweet 16
- The Peacocks continued to make history in the Second Round, proving doubters wrong once again as they continued their magical run, advancing to the Sweet 16 with a 70-60 victory over Murray State University inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
- The Peacocks got a team-high 17 points from KC Ndefo and another clutch shooting night from Edert who finished with 13 as they advanced to become one of the last 16 teams remaining in college basketball. At the time, SPU had the nation's longest winning streak at nine straight games and advanced to play #3 Purdue Friday night (March 25th) in Philadelphia looking to advance to the Elite 8.
- The Peacocks led wire-to-wire in the contest and handed Murray State, who previously held the record for the longest active win streak, just their third loss of the season to improve to 21-11 overall while the Racers ended their season 31-3.
- Ndefo, the three-time reigning MAAC Defensive Player of the Year, recorded 10 rebounds to go along with his 17 points to record his seventh career double-double while also adding six blocks to become the first player in program history to reach 300 career blocks.
- The Peacocks became the first team in the history of the MAAC to advance to the Sweet 16.
National Peacock Day
- The victory over Murray State wasn't the end, however, as it wasn't even close to Midnight for this Cinderella story. Coincidentally on National Peacock Day, Saint Peter's became the biggest story in sports as they advanced to the Regional Final.
- As they had already done multiple times this postseason, the Peacocks made more history by becoming the first No. 15 seed in NCAA March Madness history to advance to the Elite Eight after taking down third-seeded Purdue, 67-64, in the Sweet 16 at Wells Fargo Center.
- With the win, the Peacocks extended the nation's longest win streak to 10 straight games and improved to 22-11 overall this season.
- The Peacocks were led offensively by three players in double figures, including Daryl Banks III -- who finished with 14 points -- while freshman and Philadelphia native Clarence Rupert produced 11 points, all in the first half, while junior Doug Edert dropped 11 off the bench.
- SPU played lock-down defense throughout the contest once again, holding the Boilermakers to their second-lowest point total in a loss this season.
- As the only #15 seed to advance to the Elite Eight, the Saint Peter's Peacocks have established themselves as one of the best Cinderella stories in the history of the NCAA.
- The SPU defense was tenacious all night forcing 15 turnovers while committing just eight, one off a season-low. The Peacocks are now 8-1 when committing 11 or less turnovers in a game.
The Aftermath
- Although the Peacocks fell in the Elite Eight against eventual NCAA Tournament Runner-Up North Carolina, SPU was still celebrated across the country for their incredible run.
- Following the run, the Peacocks were honored at numerous gatherings and events, including a parade through Jersey City that brought fans out to celebrate.
- In addition, senior KC Ndefo, the 2022 Lefty Driesell National Defensive Player of the Year, was honored by throwing the first pitch at a New York Yankees game and the Peacocks were invited to Governer Phil Murphy's home, Drumthwacket, following the run.
- In the final USA Today Coaches poll of the year, Saint Peter's found themselves ranked No. 24 in the country, the first top-25 ranking in program history.
- In the end, the Peacocks will always find themselves in the history books as one of the biggest Cinderella stories in NCAA history.
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