Saint Peter’s turns tables on Rider as Houge spreads his wings

Michael Houge (6) blocks Corey McKeithan (3) in final seconds to preserve Saint Peter’s win over Rider in MAAC tournament quarterfinals. (Photo by Bob Dea/Daly Dose Of Hoops)

By Vincent Simone (@VTSimone)

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — Michael Houge’s career night led Saint Peter’s to a thrilling 50-48 victory over Rider Thursday, bringing the Peacocks to the semifinals of the MAAC tournament for the fourth straight year.

The junior forward averaged just eight points per game this season, but had a night to remember. Houge poured in a career-high 20 points and came up with a critical block late in the game as Saint Peter’s narrowly defeated its in-state rival to avenge a regular-season sweep at the hands of the Broncs.

“Michael was a highly-touted recruit for us,” head coach Bashir Mason said. “He started tonight for a reason. We knew he was capable of that, especially in this moment.”

In a game that lived up to the billing of a slugfest, Saint Peter’s set the tone early and dominated the first half of play. The Peacocks held Rider to just 18 points over the first 20 minutes, and opened up a 14-point lead early in the second half.

“We wanted to slow the game down, make it a possessions game, be the more physical team,” Mason added. “The two times we played, they beat us in what we call ‘the scrap.’ They got every loose ball, every loose rebound, and turned those into baskets.”

“I’m very frustrated,” Rider head coach Kevin Baggett lamented. “We played out of character tonight. That wasn’t us.”

Despite early struggles on the offensive end, the Broncs would not quit. First team all-MAAC selection Mervin James, the leading scorer in the MAAC this season, spurred Rider’s comeback with an emphatic 3-point play that kicked off a 22-9 run. The Broncs battled back to within a point, but failed to get over the hump.

“They just played more physical than us to start the game,” James said. “We came into the second half trying to pick it up, but they had the momentum early.”

A pivotal moment played out with 18 seconds remaining in regulation, when Rider forced a shot clock violation after a Saint Peter’s timeout. Although Rider began advancing the ball up the court, play was stopped due to the violation. The Broncs were originally assessed a timeout during the stoppage, but an announcement over the public address system notified everyone in attendance that the timeout had been reinstated. The only group not to get the message was the Rider bench.

Rider officials indicated they asked the officials whether the Broncs had an additional timeout remaining, but were told they did not. After the game, a spokesperson for the MAAC said the officials reviewed the play and Rider was not assessed a timeout. Long after the final buzzer, the Boardwalk Hall scoreboard still displayed the number 1 next to Rider’s timeout category.

Down just one, and under the impression they were out of timeouts, the Broncs made one last-ditch effort to regain the lead. Corey McKeithan drove to the basket, but was engulfed by Houge’s huge 6-foot-7 frame. The direction of the block caused the ball to bounce off the bottom of the backboard before hitting McKeithan on the way out of bounds.

“I came over and rotated, and luckily I got the block,” Houge said. “We were just in tune with each other. We were together as a unit, and that’s what we preach, just standing together and being tough.”

Saint Peter’s Latrell Reid split two free throws on the ensuing possession. Unaware it had a timeout available, Rider rushed up the court in the waning seconds before T.J. Weeks’ off-balance three-point attempt hit iron.

“We won that game our way — the Saint Peter’s way — by getting a defensive stop,” Mason said. “The guys went out there and did it. I couldn’t be more proud.”

For Baggett, failure in the conference quarterfinals has become a frustrating pattern. Despite consistent regular-season success, Baggett has led the Broncs into the semifinals just once in his 12-year tenure as head coach.

Kevin Baggett has only advanced past quarterfinals once in 12 years as Rider head coach. (Photo by Bob Dea/Daly Dose Of Hoops)

“I think it is,” Baggett said when asked if the postseason shortcomings are a mental issue at this point. “It’s a mental thing that we don’t put on our guys. We’ve tried everything. I don’t have the answer other than to keep trying.”

Saint Peter’s reward for winning is a quick turnaround before facing top seed Quinnipiac in the semifinals. That tip is slated for 6:30 p.m. Friday, roughly 18 hours after the final buzzer of its win over Rider. The Peacocks are eager for the opportunity to get a measure of revenge against the Bobcats, who swept the regular season series.

“We have to make sure we’re locked in on the defensive side of the ball,” Houge said of the matchup. “We’ve gotta start off the game well and play two good halves.”

“We’re gonna turn it into what today was,” Reid added.