JERSEY CITY, N.J. - The Saint Peter's men's basketball team defeated Fairfield, 83-74, at Run Baby Run Arena on Sunday behind a huge first half. The early splurge led to the team's 10th straight win at home as the Peacocks kept their second place spot in the MAAC standings.
The only other time Saint Peter's won 10 straight games at home was during the 1983-84 season when the Peacocks finished 14-0 in Jersey City.
"Fairfield is playing really well", head coach
Bashir Mason stated after the game. "They won their last five out of six games and they were coming in here really hot. I thought the way we started the game that first half, they answered the call and I gotta give Fairfield credit. They battled back into it and made a game which was great for us, because we had to dig in late to prove to ourselves that we can actually do it, and we did."
TJ Robinson, in particular, stepped up and had a big performance once
Bryce Eaton left the game after a hard foul in the first half. Robinson led the Peacocks in scoring with a season-high 21 points while adding four assists. He finished the game shooting 9-for-10 from the free throw line which helped cement the victory for the Peacocks.
Brent Bland,
Shaedon Simpson and
Zaakir Williamson all scored in double figures as well. Bland had 15, Simpson ended with 12 and Williamson recorded a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Williamson also had two blocks and two steals resulting in a very productive day for the big man.
NOTES
The Peacocks are now 69-65 all-time vs. the Stags and 42-32 against them at home…the Peacocks haven't lost back-to-back games since falling to VCU on Nov. 12 and Delaware on Nov. 18…Turnovers were even at 15 apiece, but Saint Peter's scored 25 points off of turnovers compared to Fairfield's 16...Robinson an Simpson both dropped season-highs in points.
HOW IT HAPPENED
FIRST HALF: The Peacocks jumped out to a 17-9 lead over the Stags, with the help of Robinson who made an immediate impact off the bench scoring five points. Fairfield stuck around, but a 10-0 run by Saint Peter's made it a 30-15 game, forcing a timeout by the Stags. The run was highlighted by two made 3-pointers by Bland. With about five minutes left in the first half, the Stags knocked down a few jumpers, but the Peacocks scored eight unanswered points to go into halftime with a 43-23 lead.
SECOND HALF: Saint Peter's started the second half similarly to the first, making six its first eight shots and cashing in on three 3-pointers. Over a one-minute stretch, the Peacocks erupted for nine straight points to take their largest lead of the game, 61-33. As the game continued, the Peacocks held on to their large lead. The highlight of the game came when
Elijah Perkins drove the hoop and rose up for an insane posterization that electrified Run Baby Run Arena. Fairfield put up a valiant effort to end the game, cutting its deficit all the way down to eight, but it wasn't enough as Saint Peter's won, 83-74.
UP NEXT
The Peacocks' next two games take place on the road against Iona and Siena. Saint Peter's plays the Gaels on Friday, Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. ET followed by the Saints on Sunday, Feb. 22 at 2 p.m.
