Senior James Mathis posted a double-double with 16 points and a career- and game-high 17 rebounds. |
NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – Saint Peter’s senior guard Keydren Clark scored 42 points to lead the Peacocks (4-4, 2-0) to an 87-84 overtime victory over Niagara University (2-5, 0-2) Sunday in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference men’s basketball action at the Gallagher Center.
Clark, the nation’s two-time leading scorer, scored 36 of his points in the second half and in overtime to power Saint Peter’s to the win. The Peacocks rallied from a 51-39 deficit with 16:36 to play in the second half after Niagara opened the half with an 11-4 run. Niagara junior guard Lorenzo Miles (Washington, D.C.) scored five points to power the Purple Eagles.
Clark fueled the Saint Peter’s comeback, scoring 15-straight points for the Peacocks as they took a 61-59 lead when Clark hit a three-point field goal with 7:08 left in the half. The teams traded baskets before Clark sank a short jump shot in the lane to give Saint Peter’s a 71-69 lead with 1:36 left.
Niagara forced overtime when senior forward James Mathis (Newark, N.J.) picked up an offensive rebound and scored before the buzzer.
In overtime, Saint Peter’s scored the first nine points to open an 80-71 lead as Clark scored seven more points. Niagara answered with a 10-3 run to come within two, 83-81, with 20 seconds left when junior forward J.R. Duffey (Fort Worth, Texas) sank three free throws. Niagara junior Greg Noel (Montreal, Que.) converted a three-point play to bring the Purple Eagles within one, 85-84, before Kevin Spann sank two free throws for the final margin.
Sophomore forward Charron Fisher (Pennsauken, N.J.) led Niagara with 17 points. Mathis and Miles each scored 16 points for Niagara while Duffey added 14. Mathis and Fisher snared 17 and 10 rebounds, respectively to record double-doubles. Mathis set a personal best with the 17 rebounds.
Saint Peter’s Kaimondre Owes scored 15 points in a reserve role. Todd Sowell snared 14 rebounds for the Peacocks.
The Purple Eagles return to action Dec. 21 when they travel to South Bend, Ind., to take on Notre Dame.
Niagara Men’s Basketball Game Notes
Niagara vs. St. Peter’s – Dec. 11, 2005
Gallagher Center
Final Score: Saint Peter’s 87, Niagara 84 ot
· Sophomore Stanley Hodge started tonight at guard, marking his second consecutive start in his career. Juniors Lorenzo Miles and J.R. Duffey have each now started 37 career games, seven consecutive games this season.
· J.R. Duffey surpassed the 400 career-point mark tonight scoring 14 points for 412 career points.
· Freshman Mike Moberg scored his first career points tonight, sinking a three-pointer midway through the first half. This was also Moberg’s first career three-point attempt. Moberg finished the game with three points.
· J.R. Duffey tied his career high in assists with four.
· Lorenzo Miles registered his 100th career three-pointer early in the second half. He is currently ninth on Niagara’s career three-point chart after hitting two three-pointers this evening.
· For the first time in three games, Niagara’s opponent registered double digits in offensive rebounds. The Peacocks had 16 this evening.
· Senior James Mathis had three steals this evening, tying his career high which he achieved against Saint Peter’s (1/6/05) last season.
· Mathis registered his second double-double of the season and his fourth of his career. Charron Fisher had his third double-double of the year and of his career.
· Mathis had a career-high 17 rebounds and was one point shy of tying his career high in scoring.
· Tonight’s game is the first overtime game of the season and Niagara’s first since dropping a 113-106 game at Rider (2/26/05).
· Junior Greg Noel scored a season-high three points and tied his season-best with a rebound.
