BOX SCORE

Staten Island, NY - Saint Peter's outscored Wagner 22-7 over the last 11-plus minutes of the game while erasing a 14-point deficit en route to a 51-50 victory before a crowd of 1,752 at the Spiro Sports Center. Freshman Orlando Parker (Orlando, FL / Orlando Christian Prep) led all scorers with a career-high 15 points, on a perfect 7-of-7 shooting performance, as the Seahawks fall to 4-5 while the Peacocks improve to 5-4.

With the score tied at 50-50, Ryan Bacon split a pair at the line to give Saint Peter's a 51-50 lead with just 58 seconds to go. Unfortunately, the score would stay that way as Wagner missed four potential game-winning shots as the Peacocks escaped with the one-point win.

The Seahawks looked to have the game on ice after ripping of a 12-2 run early in the second half while extending its lead to a game-high 14 at 43-29 with 11:16 to play. Five different members of the Green & White hit shots, keying the run as Wagner converted seven of its first eight shots after intermission. Saint Peter's then responded with a 7-0 run before junior Tyler Murray (Toronto, Ontario / Eastern Commerce) momentarily stopped the bleeding with a jumper at the 9:13 mark. From that point on, the Peacock defense tighthened up while forcing the Seahawks into seven-straight missed shots and four turnovers to end the game.

In defeat, Wagner shot a respectable 48.6 percent (17-35), but hit on a season-low 25.0 percent (2-8) from beyond the arc while the two made three pointers were also a season-low. The Seahawks also converted on just 63.6 percent (14-22) form the line but won the battle of the glass by a 27-23 count. Saint Peter's made good on 41.5 percent (17-41), including 55.0 percent (11-20) in the second half, from the floor and 40.0 percent (6-15) from outside, including 50.0 percent (4-8) in the second half.

Parker scored his 15 points in just 20 minutes after not starting for the first time all season. Murray was the only other double-digit scorer for the Green & White with 11 points while adding a game-high eight boards. 

For Saint Peter's, Nick Leon scored eight of his team-high 14 points in the second period while Wesley Jenkins added 12 points and eight rebounds. Bacon rounded out the double-digit scorers with 10 points.

In the first half, the Peacocks scored 10-straight points after a Naofall Folahan (Fr., Benin Republic / Wilbraham and Monson Academy) jumper, assuming the early 10-2 lead at the 14:18 mark.  Wagner would chip away at the lead before using an 11-0 run to take a 23-16 lead with 2:53 to play as Parker fueled the run with seven points. Leon snapped the 5:56 scoring drought with a jumer as the Peacocks went into halftime down 27-22. Over the final 8:34, the Wagner defense limited Saint Peter's to just 1-of-7 shooting with five turnovers.

Since the teams renewed their rivalry in the 2007-2008 season, three of the games have been decided by one possession, including the last two games by one point apiece, as each squad has won twice.

Wagner returns to action on Friday, December 17 at 7:00 pm when the Seahawks welcome Princeton to the Spiro Sports Center.