JERSEY CITY, N.J. – The Saint Peter's men's basketball team (10-6, 7-1 MAAC) held on in the second half to defeat Rider (2-15, 1-7 MAAC) by a final score of 69-58 at Run Baby Run Arena on Saturday. The Peacocks recorded their sixth straight win at home.
Zaakir Williamson went off for a dominant double-double (points-rebounds) with a team-high 20 points and 11 rebounds.
Lucas Scroggins also neared a double-double with 10 points and seven boards. The duo of
Bryce Eaton and
TJ Robinson each dropped 10 points in the win.
The Peacocks' defense dialed it up a notch towards the end of the game, allowing just one made shot by the Broncs in the final seven-and-a-half minutes of the game. Saint Peter's finished with 10 steals while forcing 17 Rider turnovers.
NOTES
Saint Peter's is now 37-45 all-time against the Broncs and 17-22 against them at home…the last time the Peacocks started 8-1 at home was during the 2010-11 season…the last time the Peacocks started 7-1 in-conference was during the 2003-04 season....the last time the Peacocks won six consecutive games at home was during the 2019-20 season from Dec. 12 to Feb. 6...Williamson recorded his second double-double this season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
SECOND HALF: Rider carried its momentum into the second half, cutting its deficit to just one-point at 39-40 after the first media timeout. With 15 minutes to go, the Broncs took its first lead since 15:40 in the first half when they led 8-7. Facing a 42-48 deficit, Saint Peter's scored on back-to-back possessions to make it 46-48. Out of a timeout,
Jahki Gupton tied the game with a jumper before
Adetokunbo Bakare rattled in a 3 to regain the lead.
The tie continued to 56-56 before the Peacocks scored 11 unanswered points to control the game late. The Peacocks allowed just two points in the final seven-and-a-half minutes, leading to a 69-59 win.
FIRST HALF: The Peacocks held a 12-10 lead at the 12-minute mark as Williamson led the way with half of the team's points. Over the next few minutes, steals led to fastbreak points scored by Robinson and Gupton as the crowd started to get into it. With a four-point advantage, Saint Peter's outscored Rider 15-5, bringing its lead to 31-19. The Broncs ended the half swinging, coming within five points, 29-34.
UP NEXT
The Peacocks have one day of rest before taking on Iona at Run Baby Run Arena on Monday, Jan. 19, at 2 p.m. ET.
