NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. - The Saint Peter's men's basketball team took Iona to overtime on Friday at Hynes Athletics Center, but ultimately fell to the Gaels, 64-72.
It was just the second time this season the Peacocks (15-10, 12-5 MAAC) played in an overtime game, with the first being against Georgetown. The Gaels (16-12, 8-9 MAAC) also played one other overtime game this year when they went to double overtime against Oregon State.
The big difference maker tonight was Iona's ability to get to the free throw line. In a game where both teams turned the ball over 18 times, it was crucial to come away with points on each possession. The Gaels attempted 21 free throws compared to Saint Peter's 10.
The duo of
Brent Bland and
Bryce Eaton combined for 34 points as they both scored 17 apiece. Bland added six rebounds and two steals while playing the most minutes by any player tonight with 44.
NOTES
The Peacocks are now 56-77 all-time vs. the Gaels and 28-49 against them on the road.
HOW IT HAPPENED
OVERTIME: Iona struck first in overtime after a pair of free throws made it 63-61. The Gaels then made a tough layup followed by two more free throws to take a commanding 67-61 lead. The Peacocks responded with a 3-pointer by Bland on the other end, but an AND-1 by the Gaels on the other end put them ahead by six once again. Saint Peter's was unable to come back over the final stretch, falling 64-72.
SECOND HALF: Shortly into the second half, the Gaels staged an 11-0 scoring run to take a 42-37 advantage.
Zaakir Williamson managed to put an end to the run with a layup in the post. Back-to-back putbacks by Iona made it a 46-39 game, but an AND-1 by
Jahki Gupton kept it close. A fastbreak layup from Eaton was off the mark, but
J'Quan Ewing's putback dunk made it a one-point game at 48-49 with under seven minutes remaining.
The Peacocks then regained the lead at 54-52 following an AND-1 layup by
Elijah Perkins. The Gaels tied the game with a pair of free throws and then took the lead with a 3-pointer. With the shot clock winding down, Bland hit a 3 from way downtown to tie it up again, 57-57. Both teams hit free throws down the stretch as the game went to overtime with the score showing 61-61.
FIRST HALF: The Peacocks saw two quick 3-pointers find the net as Eaton and Williamson knocked them down to make it an 8-2 start over Iona. The Gaels stormed back with nine unanswered points, going up 11-8 over Saint Peter's. Not long after, the Gaels extended their lead to 20-12 with a 3-pointer, but
Shaedon Simpson returned the favor on the other end with a triple of his own.
Just when Iona took its largest lead of the game at 27-17, the Peacocks rattled off seven straight points to cut their deficit to three and force an Iona timeout. Out of the timeout, Bland knocked down another 3-pointer to tie the game at 27-27. The Peacocks then took their first lead in over 12 minutes after a stepback baseline jumper by Eaton. Saint Peter's led 31-29 at halftime.
UP NEXT
The Peacocks head up to Siena for their next game on Sunday at 2 p.m. ET.
