Peacocks stifle Manhattan, stay alive for #2 seed

KC Ndefo powers past Manhattan as Saint Peter’s dominated Jaspers to move ahead of Siena for second place in MAAC. (Photo by Bob Dea/Daly Dose Of Hoops)

NEW YORK — Defense, as has often been suggested, wins championships.

And even in a conference with a Hall of Fame coach, the owner of the best defense in the league proved yet again it could beat anyone on its best effort.

Using a spate of 20 unanswered points as part of a 29-4 run from the end of the first half through the beginning of the second period, Saint Peter’s did to Manhattan Tuesday what it has done to countless other opponents this year, freezing the Jasper offense in a 73-51 drubbing at Draddy Gymnasium.

“We understand this time of year, what it’s about,” head coach Shaheen Holloway assessed just two days after the Peacocks (15-11, 13-6 MAAC) held Niagara to just 36 points Sunday — the lowest output yielded to an opposing team since the former Seton Hall point guard and assistant replaced John Dunne in 2018 — to move a half-game ahead of Siena for second in the MAAC standings. “We’re not worried about seeds, we’re just worried about playing well.”

“I thought early in the year, we kind of thought we were an offensive team. We forgot who we are. We got embarrassed by Rider, then we went to Siena and they embarrassed us. We had a meeting, and the guys understand we’ve got to get back to doing the little things, playing Saint Peter’s basketball.”

Among said little things? Holding Jose Perez, the MAAC’s leading scorer who averages over 22 points per game in league play and 19 overall, to just six points on 1-of-11 shooting. Perez only managed a half-dozen markers in the first meeting between the schools on January 28, but was ejected in the first half, making the display more impressive as a result.

“It was a team effort,” Holloway said of defending Perez, who has made just eight of his last 45 field goal attempts in Manhattan's last three games. “He’s a good player, he makes them go, him and Ant Nelson. And we understood that. The game plan was to make sure they had tough shots, don’t give them nothing easy. I thought the guys did a great job with that.”

Adding to the misery for Manhattan was Anthony Nelson leaving the game in the first half with what appeared to be a left leg injury. The senior limped to the bench and was in visible pain before being helped to the locker room, unable to put weight on his limb. Perez later exited the game as his right elbow was being tended to late in the second half. Head coach Steve Masiello did not provide an update on the status of either Nelson or Perez for Thursday’s regular season finale against Iona, but even in the face of a three-game losing streak that dropped the Jaspers to .500 at 14-14 overall (7-12 MAAC), remains optimistic in his group’s ability to deliver while the chips are down.

“I always feel confident,” he reassured. “I always know what we’re capable of, know what we can do, know how to put the recipe together.”

As for Saint Peter’s, the Peacocks can clinch the No. 2 seed in next week’s MAAC tournament with a win over Fairfield Saturday and a Siena loss to either Niagara or Canisius this week. But while teams are jockeying for position in Atlantic City, Holloway is content to let that play out naturally, devoting all his attention to the Stags at the moment.

“Right now, we’re just focused on Saturday,” he reiterated. “Saturday’s very important, it’s senior day for KC (Ndefo), he’s been here for four years with me. We’ve got to make sure we come out and play against a good Fairfield team who defends. We’ve got to try to get prepared for them. Next week is next week, but you know what? I think we’re getting there. As a coach, you always want to get better and do better, and I think we’re getting there.”