Niagara outlasts Saint Peter’s in OT: Observations from Jersey City

Greg Paulus looks on as his Niagara team battles Saint Peter’s. (Photo by Ray Floriani/Daly Dose Of Hoops)

By Ray Floriani (@rfloriani)

JERSEY CITY, N.J. — Watching Niagara and Saint Peter’s battle Friday night, the sense of overtime was written all over the encounter.

Indeed, that was the case at Run Baby Run Arena, as the visiting Purple Eagles needed 45 minutes to ground the Peacocks, finally coming away with a 68-59 victory. With the win, Niagara is now 11-10 on the year, and 7-4 in MAAC play, while Saint Peter’s falls to 11-8 and 7-3, respectively, after the loss.

Points of Emphasis

A battle: It may sound cliche to file Friday’s game as another night in the MAAC, but the nature of the game defined the competitiveness for which the league has come to be recognized.

“So many games in this league are decided by one possession,” Niagara head coach Greg Paulus opined. “We’ve had some one-possession games this year. Beginning in the summer, we emphasized to our players the importance of attention to details and the little things. We want our players to value each and every possession over the course of 40 minutes.”

Outstanding offense meets stingy defense: In a meeting of Niagara’s second-most efficient offense in the MAAC against Saint Peter’s conference-leading defense, the Peacocks opened the game with a half-court, man-to-man scheme. The hosts’ full-court defense saw Niagara’s point guards picked up at their own free throw line. Head coach Bashir Mason also mixed a 2-2-1 press into the equation, stifling the Purple Eagles for the first five minutes before Braxton Bayless scored on a contested layup.

Despite the slow start, Niagara played solid defense of its own, contesting shots and forcing turnovers against a Saint Peter’s side that could not gain significant traction or separation. In a 70-possession game, the visitors held the Peacocks to a scant 0.84 points per possession.

Poise: Following the game, Paulus and his staff met briefly outside the locker room. Upon entering, the fifth-year head coach simply said, “way to find a way, guys.” He was met by a resounding cheer.

Niagara did indeed find a way, negating a 10-point deficit in the final seven minutes of regulation as Bayless sparked the comeback by gaining access to the lane and finishing several times.

“He did a good job,” Mason conceded. “Several times, we lost him in the defensive rotation.”

Niagara drew first blood in overtime on a three from Luke Bumbalough. On the night, the Ball State transfer knocked down all four of the Purple Eagles’ three-point field goals. His second trifecta of the extra session proved to be the proverbial dagger.

“I’m just proud of them,” Paulus said of his roster. “We played to a high level against a good Saint Peter’s team that is difficult to prepare for.”

Harlan Obioha: Paulus called on his 7-foot sophomore frequently in the second half, and he answered the call. Obioha battled a physical Saint Peter’s front line and more than held his own, walking away with a dozen points while also amassing eight rebounds.

“He continues to develop,” Paulus said. “He’s taking steps forward, and he’s shown the ability to produce in the paint.”

Disappointment: Naturally, Mason was upset with the loss, even if the bright side of the setback was the return of Michael Houge for the first time in nearly a month. Houge logged 13 minutes and his health was praised by the Peacocks second-year skipper, but the reasons for the defeat still weighed heavily on his mind after the game.

“We had 18 turnovers against a team that didn’t press us,” Mason lamented. “We missed too many layups and close shots. We had poor execution, but give Niagara credit. They played hard and tough.”