Murray cuts lead, Peacocks get it back
Murray State cut the lead to six, but after back to back buckets, Saint Peter’s has increased the lead back to 10. Led by KC Ndefo’s 15 points, Saint Peter’s holds a 48-38 lead with 11 minutes remaining in the second half.
Problems in the paint
Murray State only has 10 points inside the paint tonight, where it’s being outscored by 14 points. With 14:30 left, Peacocks lead 42-32.
Defensive gem
Saint Peter’s wins with defense and tonight it’s giving the Racers a lot of problems. Murray State shot better than 48 percent coming into tonight, where it’s shooting 31 percent from the floor. The Racers average 80 points per game, but only have 30 so far with four minutes gone in the second half. Peacocks lead by 10.
Peacock run
Saint Peter’s has scored the first eight points of the second half and now hold a 40-27 edge over Murray State early in the second half. The Racers have called a timeout and will look to regroup.
KC starts hot
Right after intermission, KC Ndefo scored two more points to give him 13 for the game. The Peacocks then forced a turnover and then Matthew Lee buried a trey to take a 10-point lead. St. Peter’s leads by 10 early in the second half.
Peacocks lead at the half
KC Ndefo has 11 points and Clarence Rupert has five to lead Saint Peter’s to a 32-27 lead at halftime. They’ve limited the Racers, who average 80 points per game, to just 27 and they’re shooting just 32 percent from the field.
Murray State is led by Justice Hill’s nine points. DJ Burns and reserve Nicholas McMullen are each playing with three personal fouls.
KC time
KC Ndefo averages 10.5 points per game, but he has 11 already in the first half. With 2:11 left, Saint Peter’s holding a 29-27 lead. The Peacocks have yet to trail.
Foul trouble
This is turning into a very physical game and both teams have players with multiple fouls. Saint Peter’s Matthew Lee just picked up his second, while Murry State has four players with two fouls, including starters DJ Burns and KJ Williams. St. Peter’s leads 24-22 with 3:45 left in half.
Quotable
Saint Peter’s coach Shaheen Holloway on his team’s play during a timeout to CBS. “You’re playing like crap!” Imagine if they were losing?
Long range success
Saint Peter’s does a great job defending the three point shot, but the Racers are doing pretty well from downtown. They just made a pair of treys and have hit three of eight in the first half. The Peacocks lead 21-19 with 5:39 remaining before halftime.
That’s a foul!
Racers big man DJ Burns just picked up his second foul of the game, and that could pose a problem for Murray State. The Peacocks have been giving the Racers problems in the paint during the first half of the first half, and Murray State is sending Burns to the bench. Eight minutes to play in the first half, Saint Peter’s leads 14-13.
Block party
KC Ndefo has two of the Peacocks’ three blocks in the early going, and both teams are playing well on the defensive end. Midway through the first half, we’re tied at 11.
Helping hand
Matthew Lee hasn’t scored yet, but he’s playing a great role as a facilitator. He has assists on the first three Peacock field goals early. The game is tied 9-9 with 13 minutes remaining in the first half.
Defensive gem
The Racers have yet to hit a shot from the floor, going 0-for-5 from the field, and trail 4-2 after five minutes of action. Murray State has also committed two turnovers, one less than the Peacocks.
Better start
KC Ndefo scored the first points of the game on a layup. This is a much better start than he had in the opener where he had two personal fouls within the first 90 seconds of the game and spent the rest of the first half on the bench.
Slow start
Both teams missed shots and turned the ball over in their first two possessions. We’re a little over a minute into the game and no score yet. Both teams seem locked in on defense.
Starting lineup
Probable starters for Saint Peter’s: guard Daryl Banks III, guard Matthew Lee, forward Hassan Drame, forward KC Ndefo and forward Clarence Rupert. Top reserve is guard Doug Edert.
The Racers will start Justice Hill, Tevin Brown, Trae Hannibale, DJ Burns and K.J. Williams.
Saint Peter’s vs. Murray State: At a glance
The Peacocks come into the second round having upset second-seeded Kentucky 85-70 in overtime in a first-round game. Daryl Banks III led Saint Peter’s with 27 points. Doug Edert added 20.
The Racers used a balanced attack in their first round game to defeat San Francisco 92-87. KJ Williams and Trae Hannibal each scored 18 points and Tevin Brown added 17. Murray State, the seven seed, is 31-2 on the year.
The Peacocks are looking for their second win in tournament history. Their first was in the first round. Both teams needed overtime in the first game, so both teams have the potential to win close games.
Whichever team wins will be making school history, neither team has ever reached the Sweet 16.
George is Digismak’s reported cum editor with 13 years of experience in Journalism