NEWARK, N.J. – Saint Peter's men's basketball dropped a heartbreaker to NJIT on a halftime court banked in three-pointer as time expired by a score of 54-52 to wrap up the America East-Metro Challenge. 

The Peacocks fall to 0-3, while the Highlanders improve to 1-2. 

HOW IT HAPPENED
FIRST HALF: Both teams got off to a sluggish start on offense with NJIT building an 8-2 lead at the 12:10 mark of the opening half. The Peacocks rallied back with a 10-3 run, capped by a Bryce Eaton triple at the 7:51 mark to put Saint Peter's in front 12-11. The Highlanders scoffed the next eight points to retake the lead at 19-12 with under six minutes to play. The Peacocks battled back, closing the gap to two points following a pair of free throws from Elijah Perkins with 2:40 to play. NJIT scored the final five points of the half to take a 25-18 lead into the break.  

SECOND HALF: NJIT got off to a fast start, connecting on a pair of three-pointers to build their largest lead of the game at 33-21 with 18:15 left in the game. The Peacocks stepped up their defensive pressure and rallied back on the offensive side. Xavier Thomas drained a pair of triples, while Ken Walker added a trifecta. Eaton got a steal and went coast to coast to hoop to cut the score to 41-38 midway through the half. NJIT pushed ahead 45-41 with 6:24 to play in the game. Saint Peter's roared back as Trey Patterson drained a pair from downtown as part of an 11-3 run. Walker added a triple, while Eaton capped the run with a lay-up to put the Peacocks ahead 52-48. NJIT closed the gap coming to within a point in the waning seconds. Following a missed free throw, NJIT grabbed the rebound and headed to midcourt for the halfcourt heave that banked in as time expired to break the heart of Peacock fans.  

TOP PERFORMERS: Thomas led the way with 14 points, four rebounds and three steals. Eaton added 12 points and three steals, while Patterson finished with seven points and 12 boards. 

UP NEXT
The Peacocks head to the Palmetto State as they face South Carolina on Wednesday, November 11 at 7pm. The game will be televised on SEC+ Network.