JERSEY CITY, N.J. – The Saint Peter's men's basketball team secured another win at home, defeating Iona, 77-63, at Run Baby Run Arena on Monday. Six Saint Peter's players scored in double figures as the Peacocks won their seventh consecutive home game.
The Peacocks (11-6, 8-1 MAAC) trailed the Gaels (12-8, 4-5 MAAC) at halftime, but wasted no time regaining control of the game with a 9-0 run to start the second half. The 9-0 scoring run turned into an 18-5 run over seven minutes which ultimately served as the difference maker.
"It was huge for us," head coach
Bashir Mason said about the second-half start. "We've been in this position a couple of times with Mount St. Mary's, at Quinnipiac and our last game against Rider, where we've had some leads at halftime, and then have come out and not been prepared for what the second half was going to be. But I thought we did a good job of setting the tone starting the half."
Saint Peter's seemed to lock in defensively after allowing seven 3-pointers in the first half, holding the Gaels to just eight points through the first nine minutes after the break. Getting the job done defensively helped the Peacocks produce points on the other end of the floor.
The six double-digit scorers for the Peacocks were
Zaakir Williamson (13),
Lucas Scroggins (12),
Brent Bland (11),
Jahki Gupton (11),
TJ Robinson (10) and
Adetokunbo Bakare (10). It was Bakare who provided the spark to start the second half as he knocked down three triples.
Saint Peter's dominated the paint, outrebounding Iona 44-to-31. The Peacocks also finished with 30 points in the paint compared to the Gaels' 16.
NOTES
Saint Peter's is now 56-76 all-time against the Gaels and 28-28 against them at home…the last time the Peacocks started 9-1 at home was during the 1996-97 season…the last time the Peacocks started 8-1 in-conference was during the 1994-95 season...the Peacocks have won seven straight games at home…Saint Peter's had six players score in double figures…
Elijah Perkins recorded a Saint Peter's career-high eight points…Bland and Gupton were each one rebound away from a double-double.
HOW IT HAPPENED
SECOND HALF: The Peacocks opened the second half scoring seven unanswered points to take a 37-33 lead and force an Iona timeout. Over the next few minutes, Saint Peter's continued to pile it on with the help of Bakare, who made two big 3s. With 11:33 remaining in regulation, the Peacocks held a 53-41 lead over the Gaels. Iona did not go away, hitting three straight 3-pointers to bring it within eight at 50-58. That was the last run the Gaels made as Saint Peter's got into the bonus and hit free throws all the way to a 77-63 victory.
FIRST HALF: The Gaels took a 16-12 lead over the Peacocks to start the game, cashing in on four 3-pointers while shooting 50.0 percent (4-for-8) from long range. The Saint Peter's defense slowed down the Iona attack and hit free throws on the other end to keep it tight. After grabbing a rebound, Bakare stormed down the court and lobbed it up to Gupton for an insane alley-oop slam, putting SPU up, 21-18, with almost nine minutes to go in the half.
In a 21-21 tie, the Gaels hit three straight 3-pointers to take a 30-21 lead over the Peacocks. Bland put an end to Iona's 12-0 run with a 3-pointer on the other end, but the Gaels went into halftime with a 33-30 lead.
UP NEXT
Saint Peter's travels to North Andover, Mass. later this week for its next game against Merrimack on Saturday, Jan. 24, at 3 p.m. ET. The Peacocks and Warriors both share the same conference record of 8-1.
