| GAME 3 |
| SCORE |
Saint Peter's Peacocks 53, Niagara Purple Eagles 49 |
| RECORDS |
Saint Peter's (4-2, 2-0 MAAC) | Niagara (0-3, 0-2 MAAC) |
| LEADING SCORERS |
Saint Peter's – KC Ndefo (15) | Niagara – Marcus Hammond (15) |
| LOCATION |
John Moore Athletics Center |
JERSEY CITY, N.J. – The Niagara Purple Eagles wrapped up their MAAC opening two-game series with a narrow 53-49 defeat to the Saint Peter's Peacocks on Saturday night.
Game Summary
The Purple Eagles and Peacocks played in another close contest which has been customary in the recent series history. The 88
th meeting was in the balance throughout and was not decided until the final seconds.
Stingy defense by both teams forced a slow offensive start to the game. Though the scoring output may have been few and far between, the game featured 11 lead changes in the opening half.
Kobi Nwandu drained a 3-pointer for Niagara's first lead at 3-1. Nwandu and
Marcus Hammond connected on triples on consecutive possessions as NU led 16-15 with 5:45 left in the half. The lead alternated six times in the final five minutes of the half, which was capped by Nwandu's third 3-pointer, to give the Purple Eagles a 23-21 halftime lead.
The Purple Eagles used a 7-0 run early in the second half for their largest lead of the game, 30-23. Hammond nailed a 3-pointer, followed by a
Nicholas Kratholm layup, and a
Touba Traore putback floater during the run.
The Peacocks answered with a 10-3 run to tie the game at 33-33 as the final 12 minutes were played in a one-possession window. Hammond made a jumper to tie the game at 49-49 with three minutes remaining. The Peacocks went back in front on a jumper by Daryl Banks III on their next possession. The Purple Eagles had empty possessions on their next two trips and then missed a pair of free throws with three seconds left. Saint Peter's, then, iced the game with two made free throws.
Eagle's Eye On…
- Marcus Hammond led the Purple Eagles in scoring with a season-high 15 points and led the game in steals with three which ties a career-high.
- Kobi Nwandu netted 11 points, grabbed four rebounds, and had a game-high three assists.
Eagle's Eye On…
- The game featured 14 ties and 18 lead changes.
- Ten of the last 16 matchups between the two programs have been decided by six points or less.
Up Next
- The Purple Eagles open their home schedule with a two-game series with the Fairfield Stags, beginning on Friday, December 18 at 4 p.m.
- Coverage of the game will be provided by ESPN3 and by the Niagara Sports Network via 107.3 FM/AM 1400 and www.PurpleEagles.com/Watch.
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