STPETE

MURYST

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Saint Peter's is 3rd 15 seed in Sweet 16, beats Murray State

AP
Mar 20, 2022

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Undersized in every way, Saint Peter's became the latest NCAA Tournament darling that only the most ardent hoops fans had heard of before it stepped onto a court with a March Madness logo.

These proud Peacocks from Jersey City, New Jersey, became the third No. 15 seed to advance to the Sweet 16, first tossing eight-time national champion Kentucky out of the bracket and then taking care of Murray State in a workmanlike 70-60 win on Saturday night.

Even mid-major Murray State was taller and beefier than the Peacocks, but that didn't bother coach Shaheen Holloway or his 6-foot-7, 195-pound power forward, KC Ndefo, who had 17 points and 10 rebounds and played bruising defense at the rim.

''I'm going to say this. It's going to come off a little crazy. I got guys from New Jersey and New York City,'' Holloway said. ''You think we're scared of anything? You think we're worried about guys trying to muscle us and tough us out?''

Yep, the Jesuit school with an enrollment of 3,000 has a big Jersey attitude.

''We have played bigger teams the whole time. So them being a little bigger and stronger, it doesn't faze us. When you got tough, hard-nosed kids, they're ready to play,'' Holloway said.

They were ready enough to break the hearts of Kentuckians two times in three days and join Florida Gulf Coast (2013) and Oral Roberts (last year) as 15 seeds to reach a regional semifinal.

Saint Peter's (21-11) ended a 21-game winning streak and a memorable season for Murray State (31-3), located 265 miles from Lexington in Kentucky's southwestern corner.

The memories will be lifelong for the Peacocks and Holloway, a North Jersey hoops lifer who played at Seton Hall and apprenticed there as an assistant. On Friday, Pirates coach Kevin Willard endorsed Holloway as his replacement if he departs in the offseason.

The last team from New Jersey to reach the Sweet 16? That would be Seton Hall in 2000, with Holloway at point guard.

''I was a decent player. I'm small. People counted me out. So I had something to prove every time. So I coached that way,'' he said.

His next opportunity comes Friday in Philadelphia against either Texas or Purdue.

Doug Edert came off the bench to score 13 points for the Peacocks, including some big baskets late. Saint Peter's built a 13-point lead early in the second half and never trailed, but Murray State still made it tense. Justice Hill hit a 3-pointer to get the Racers within 59-57 with 4:07 left. Edert followed with a 3 and a layup, and the Peacocks closed it out at the free-throw line.

''I always do my best to get as many shots as I can,'' Edert said. ''I don't think about anything when I'm in the game. I just let it happen.''

Hill made five 3s for 19 points and Tevin Brown scored 14 for Murray State. First-half foul trouble hurt the Racers, who had to figure out how to keep DJ Burns and Nicholas McMullen in the game with three fouls each.

Shooting was a problem, too: The Racers shot 35%, including 9 of 28 in the first half. Saint Peter's finished at 42% and closed the game with a 6-0 run for its ninth consecutive victory. KJ Williams had 12 points and Trae Hannibal scored 10 before leaving the game late with an ankle injury. Murray State was also without starting guard Carter Collins, who turned an ankle against San Francisco in the first round.

''It's tough because you care. It's tough because it means something to you,'' Racers coach Matt McMahon said. ''Because you're passionate about it. These guys have invested a lot to have this historic season. You certainly don't want it to end.''

KEY NUMBERS

Saint Peter's outrebounded Murray State 38-31 and controlled the boards 32-20. The teams combined for 46 fouls. The Peacocks converted 23 of 31 from the line while the Racers made 16 of 25.

BIG PICTURE

Saint Peter's didn't buckle in its overtime win over No. 2 seed Kentucky and showed no fear this time, either. The campus was buzzing after that victory and Holloway said he received more than 800 text messages. The Peacocks are likely to receive a hero's welcome back in Jersey City.

Murray State eventually regrouped after its early foul problems, but for the first time since late December, the Racers failed to close out a game.

''It's a letdown,'' Brown said. ''We haven't had the feeling of losing a game in a long time.''

UP NEXT

Saint Peter's gets to watch its next opponent on TV when No. 6 seed Texas meets No. 3 seed Purdue in Milwaukee on Sunday.

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More AP coverage of March Madness: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness and https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25

1st Half
SPU
Peacocks
32
MURR
Racers
27

Time		Play	Score
20:00		Clarence Rupert vs. KJ Williams (Hassan Drame gains possession)
19:36		Matthew Lee misses three point jump shot
19:34		Trae Hannibal defensive rebound
19:14		Tevin Brown turnover (lost ball) (KC Ndefo steals)
19:09		KC Ndefo turnover (lost ball) (Trae Hannibal steals)
18:59		KJ Williams misses three point jump shot
18:57		Daryl Banks III defensive rebound
18:36		Daryl Banks III misses two point jump shot
18:34		KJ Williams defensive rebound
18:28		Trae Hannibal offensive foul
18:28		Trae Hannibal turnover
18:06	+2	KC Ndefo makes two point layup (Matthew Lee assists)	2-0
17:37		Matthew Lee shooting foul (KJ Williams draws the foul)
17:37	+1	KJ Williams makes regular free throw 1 of 2	2-1
17:37	+1	KJ Williams makes regular free throw 2 of 2	2-2
17:23	+2	Clarence Rupert makes two point layup (Matthew Lee assists)	4-2
16:53		Clarence Rupert personal foul (Justice Hill draws the foul)
16:47		KC Ndefo blocks KJ Williams's two point layup
16:45		DJ Burns offensive rebound
16:37		Tevin Brown misses two point jump shot
16:35		Matthew Lee defensive rebound
16:23		KC Ndefo turnover (lost ball) (Trae Hannibal steals)
16:16		Trae Hannibal misses two point layup
16:14		Hassan Drame defensive rebound
15:57		Matthew Lee turnover (lost ball) (Justice Hill steals)
15:46		DJ Burns misses two point layup
15:44		Matthew Lee defensive rebound
15:16		Clarence Rupert misses two point jump shot
15:14		Hassan Drame personal foul (Trae Hannibal draws the foul)
14:59	+2	KJ Williams makes two point layup (Justice Hill assists)	4-4
14:59	+2	KJ Williams makes two point layup (Justice Hill assists)	4-4
14:42	+3	Daryl Banks III makes three point jump shot (Matthew Lee assists)	7-4
14:16	+2	Jordan Skipper-Brown makes two point layup (KJ Williams assists)	7-6
13:56	+2	Clarence Rupert makes two point jump shot	9-6
13:31		DaQuan Smith misses two point layup
13:29		Jordan Skipper-Brown offensive rebound
13:15	+3	Justice Hill makes three point jump shot	9-9
12:52		KC Ndefo misses three point jump shot
12:50		KC Ndefo offensive rebound
12:44		Tevin Brown blocks Daryl Banks III's three point jump shot
12:42		Justice Hill defensive rebound
12:40		KC Ndefo blocks Justice Hill's two point layup
12:38		Racers offensive rebound
12:34		Tevin Brown misses three point jump shot
12:32		KC Ndefo defensive rebound
12:23	+2	Matthew Lee makes two point layup	11-9
12:01		Justice Hill misses three point jump shot
11:59		KC Ndefo defensive rebound
11:45		Justice Hill blocks Isiah Dasher's two point layup
11:44		Racers defensive rebound
11:44		TV timeout
11:30		Oumar Diahame personal foul (DaQuan Smith draws the foul)
11:18	+2	DJ Burns makes two point layup (Tevin Brown assists)	11-11
11:02		Doug Edert turnover (bad pass) (Trae Hannibal steals)
10:54		Oumar Diahame blocks KJ Williams's two point layup
10:52		DJ Burns offensive rebound
10:52		Jump ball. DJ Burns vs. Oumar Diahame (Racers gains possession)
10:45		Doug Edert personal foul (DJ Burns draws the foul)
10:37		KJ Williams misses two point jump shot
10:35		DJ Burns offensive rebound
10:20		Trae Hannibal turnover (traveling)
10:12		DJ Burns personal foul (Hassan Drame draws the foul)
9:55	+2	Jaylen Murray makes two point jump shot (Isiah Dasher assists)	13-11
9:37		DaQuan Smith misses three point jump shot
9:35		Fousseyni Drame defensive rebound
9:17		Doug Edert turnover (lost ball) (Justice Hill steals)
9:11	+2	Trae Hannibal makes two point dunk (Justice Hill assists)	13-13
8:53		Jaylen Murray misses three point jump shot
8:49		Peacocks offensive rebound
8:34		Hassan Drame misses three point jump shot
8:31		Nicholas McMullen personal foul
8:25		DJ Burns shooting foul (Fousseyni Drame draws the foul)
8:25		Fousseyni Drame misses regular free throw 1 of 2
8:25	+1	Fousseyni Drame makes regular free throw 2 of 2	14-13
7:57		KJ Williams misses two point jump shot
7:55		KJ Williams offensive rebound
7:54		KJ Williams offensive foul
7:54		KJ Williams turnover
7:54		TV timeout
7:43		Jordan Skipper-Brown shooting foul (KC Ndefo draws the foul)
7:43	+1	KC Ndefo makes regular free throw 1 of 2	15-13
7:43		KC Ndefo misses regular free throw 2 of 2
7:43		Jordan Skipper-Brown defensive rebound
7:31		Tevin Brown misses three point jump shot
7:29		Doug Edert defensive rebound
7:19	+2	KC Ndefo makes two point layup	17-13
7:09	+3	Justice Hill makes three point jump shot (Tevin Brown assists)	17-16
6:43	+2	Doug Edert makes two point layup (KC Ndefo assists)	19-16
6:43		Justice Hill shooting foul (Doug Edert draws the foul)
6:43	+1	Doug Edert makes regular free throw 1 of 1	20-16
6:26		KC Ndefo personal foul (Jordan Skipper-Brown draws the foul)
6:21	+3	Tevin Brown makes three point jump shot (Jordan Skipper-Brown assists)	20-19
5:59		Jordan Skipper-Brown shooting foul (KC Ndefo draws the foul)
5:59		KC Ndefo misses regular free throw 1 of 2
5:59	+1	KC Ndefo makes regular free throw 2 of 2	21-19
5:41		Tevin Brown misses three point jump shot
5:39		Jordan Skipper-Brown offensive rebound
5:35	+2	KJ Williams makes two point layup (Jordan Skipper-Brown assists)	21-21
5:23		KJ Williams shooting foul (KC Ndefo draws the foul)
5:23	+1	KC Ndefo makes regular free throw 1 of 2	22-21
5:23	+1	KC Ndefo makes regular free throw 2 of 2	23-21
5:02		Justice Hill misses two point layup
5:00		Fousseyni Drame defensive rebound
4:35		Nicholas McMullen personal foul (Clarence Rupert draws the foul)
4:35	+1	Clarence Rupert makes regular free throw 1 of 2	24-21
4:35		Clarence Rupert misses regular free throw 2 of 2
4:35		Trae Hannibal defensive rebound
4:11		Nicholas McMullen turnover (bad pass) (Clarence Rupert steals)
3:54		DaQuan Smith blocks Daryl Banks III's two point layup
3:52		Trae Hannibal defensive rebound
3:50		Matthew Lee personal foul (Trae Hannibal draws the foul)
3:50		TV timeout
3:50	+1	Trae Hannibal makes regular free throw 1 of 2	24-22
3:50		Trae Hannibal misses regular free throw 2 of 2
3:50		KC Ndefo defensive rebound
3:27	+2	Jaylen Murray makes two point layup	26-22
3:20		Fousseyni Drame shooting foul (Trae Hannibal draws the foul)
3:20	+1	Trae Hannibal makes regular free throw 1 of 2	26-23
3:20	+1	Trae Hannibal makes regular free throw 2 of 2	26-24
2:58	+2	KC Ndefo makes two point layup (Jaylen Murray assists)	28-24
2:58		Nicholas McMullen shooting foul (KC Ndefo draws the foul)
2:58	+1	KC Ndefo makes regular free throw 1 of 1	29-24
2:35	+3	Justice Hill makes three point jump shot (Tevin Brown assists)	29-27
2:11		Daryl Banks III offensive foul
2:11		Daryl Banks III turnover
1:57		Tevin Brown misses two point jump shot
1:55		Fousseyni Drame defensive rebound
1:55		DJ Burns personal foul (Fousseyni Drame draws the foul)
1:55		Fousseyni Drame misses regular free throw 1 of 2
1:55	+1	Fousseyni Drame makes regular free throw 2 of 2	30-27
1:37		Isiah Dasher shooting foul (Jordan Skipper-Brown draws the foul)
1:37		Jordan Skipper-Brown misses regular free throw 1 of 2
1:37		Jordan Skipper-Brown misses regular free throw 2 of 2
1:37		Doug Edert defensive rebound
1:08		Jaylen Murray misses two point jump shot
1:06		Jaylen Murray offensive rebound
0:51		Jaylen Murray misses two point layup
0:49		Hassan Drame offensive rebound
0:48	+2	Hassan Drame makes two point tip shot	32-27
0:30		DaQuan Smith misses three point jump shot
0:27		Trae Hannibal offensive rebound
0:13		Tevin Brown misses two point jump shot
0:11		Jaylen Murray defensive rebound
0:01		Doug Edert misses two point layup
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
SPU
Peacocks
38
MURR
Racers
33

Time		Play	Score
19:39	+2	KC Ndefo makes two point jump shot	34-27
19:05		Racers turnover (shot clock violation)
18:48		KJ Williams personal foul (KC Ndefo draws the foul)
18:33	+3	Matthew Lee makes three point jump shot (Daryl Banks III assists)	37-27
18:14		Trae Hannibal turnover (bad pass) (Daryl Banks III steals)
18:11		Trae Hannibal shooting foul (Daryl Banks III draws the foul)
18:11		Daryl Banks III misses regular free throw 1 of 2
18:11	+1	Daryl Banks III makes regular free throw 2 of 2	38-27
17:52		Justice Hill misses three point jump shot
17:50		Tevin Brown offensive rebound
17:44		KC Ndefo blocks Tevin Brown's three point jump shot
17:42		Hassan Drame defensive rebound
17:25	+2	Clarence Rupert makes two point jump shot	40-27
17:23		Racers 30 second timeout
17:23		TV timeout
17:12	+3	Tevin Brown makes three point jump shot (Justice Hill assists)	40-30
16:48		Clarence Rupert misses two point layup
16:46		Hassan Drame offensive rebound
16:34		Daryl Banks III misses two point jump shot
16:30		Peacocks offensive rebound
16:22		Daryl Banks III misses two point jump shot
16:20		Hassan Drame offensive rebound
16:19		DaQuan Smith personal foul (Hassan Drame draws the foul)
16:02		Daryl Banks III turnover (bad pass) (Jordan Skipper-Brown steals)
15:55		DaQuan Smith misses two point layup
15:53		Jordan Skipper-Brown offensive rebound
15:53		Jump ball. Jordan Skipper-Brown vs. KC Ndefo (Racers gains possession)
15:53		TV timeout
15:46		Clarence Rupert shooting foul (KJ Williams draws the foul)
15:46	+1	KJ Williams makes regular free throw 1 of 2	40-31
15:46	+1	KJ Williams makes regular free throw 2 of 2	40-32
15:30		Hassan Drame turnover (bad pass) (Justice Hill steals)
15:23		Tevin Brown misses three point jump shot
15:21		Jordan Skipper-Brown offensive rebound
15:21		Jordan Skipper-Brown turnover
15:03	+2	Hassan Drame makes two point dunk (Clarence Rupert assists)	42-32
14:45		Daryl Banks III personal foul (Tevin Brown draws the foul)
14:41		Justice Hill turnover (bad pass) (Hassan Drame steals)
14:23		Jordan Skipper-Brown personal foul
14:08		Hassan Drame misses two point jump shot
14:06		KC Ndefo offensive rebound
14:03		KC Ndefo misses two point layup
14:03		Clarence Rupert offensive rebound
14:03		Clarence Rupert misses two point jump shot
14:01		KJ Williams defensive rebound
14:00		Daryl Banks III shooting foul (Tevin Brown draws the foul)
14:00		Tevin Brown misses regular free throw 1 of 2
14:00		Tevin Brown misses regular free throw 2 of 2
14:00		Tevin Brown misses regular free throw 2 of 2
14:00		Fousseyni Drame defensive rebound
13:38		Matthew Lee misses three point jump shot
13:36		Tevin Brown defensive rebound
13:29	+2	Tevin Brown makes two point layup	42-34
13:13		KC Ndefo misses two point layup
13:11		DaQuan Smith defensive rebound
13:07	+2	Justice Hill makes two point layup	42-36
12:50		KC Ndefo misses two point layup
12:48		KC Ndefo offensive rebound
12:47		KC Ndefo misses two point layup
12:45		KC Ndefo offensive rebound
12:44	+2	KC Ndefo makes two point layup	44-36
12:19		Fousseyni Drame shooting foul (KJ Williams draws the foul)
12:19	+1	KJ Williams makes regular free throw 1 of 2	44-37
12:19	+1	KJ Williams makes regular free throw 2 of 2	44-38
12:05	+2	Matthew Lee makes two point jump shot (Doug Edert assists)	46-38
11:43		KC Ndefo blocks Tevin Brown's two point layup
11:41		Matthew Lee defensive rebound
11:26	+2	Isiah Dasher makes two point jump shot (Matthew Lee assists)	48-38
11:00		Fousseyni Drame personal foul (Tevin Brown draws the foul)
11:00		TV timeout
10:42	+2	Justice Hill makes two point layup	48-40
10:14		Jordan Skipper-Brown blocks Jaylen Murray's two point layup
10:12		Fousseyni Drame offensive rebound
10:11		Peacocks turnover (shot clock violation)
9:59		Tevin Brown turnover (lost ball) (Fousseyni Drame steals)
9:53		Trae Hannibal shooting foul (Jaylen Murray draws the foul)
9:53	+1	Jaylen Murray makes regular free throw 1 of 2	49-40
9:53	+1	Jaylen Murray makes regular free throw 2 of 2	50-40
9:42		Hassan Drame personal foul (KJ Williams draws the foul)
9:32		Hassan Drame shooting foul (KJ Williams draws the foul)
9:32	+1	KJ Williams makes regular free throw 1 of 2	50-41
9:32		KJ Williams misses regular free throw 2 of 2
9:32		Isiah Dasher defensive rebound
9:13		DJ Burns blocks Isiah Dasher's two point layup
9:11		Trae Hannibal defensive rebound
9:04	+3	Justice Hill makes three point jump shot (Tevin Brown assists)	50-44
8:44		Fousseyni Drame misses three point jump shot
8:42		Trae Hannibal defensive rebound
8:35	+3	Tevin Brown makes three point jump shot (Trae Hannibal assists)	50-47
8:26		TV timeout
8:26		TV timeout
8:05	+2	Hassan Drame makes two point layup (Doug Edert assists)	52-47
7:37		Justice Hill misses two point layup
7:36		Trae Hannibal offensive rebound
7:36		Hassan Drame personal foul (Trae Hannibal draws the foul)
7:36	+1	Trae Hannibal makes regular free throw 1 of 2	52-48
7:36	+1	Trae Hannibal makes regular free throw 2 of 2	52-49
7:22		Tevin Brown personal foul (Daryl Banks III draws the foul)
7:18		KC Ndefo turnover (lost ball) (Trae Hannibal steals)
7:16		KC Ndefo blocks Trae Hannibal's two point layup
7:14		Racers offensive rebound
7:13		Justice Hill misses two point layup
7:11		Hassan Drame defensive rebound
7:10		Jump ball. Hassan Drame vs. DJ Burns (Peacocks gains possession)
6:48		DJ Burns shooting foul (KC Ndefo draws the foul)
6:48	+1	KC Ndefo makes regular free throw 1 of 2	53-49
6:48	+1	KC Ndefo makes regular free throw 2 of 2	54-49
6:32		Tevin Brown misses two point jump shot
6:30		KC Ndefo defensive rebound
6:09		Fousseyni Drame misses three point jump shot
6:07		Trae Hannibal defensive rebound
6:02		Doug Edert shooting foul (KJ Williams draws the foul)
6:02		KJ Williams misses regular free throw 1 of 2
6:02	+1	KJ Williams makes regular free throw 2 of 2	54-50
6:02	+1	KJ Williams makes regular free throw 2 of 2	54-50
5:48		Jordan Skipper-Brown shooting foul (Doug Edert draws the foul)
5:48	+1	Doug Edert makes regular free throw 1 of 3	55-50
5:48	+1	Doug Edert makes regular free throw 2 of 3	56-50
5:48	+1	Doug Edert makes regular free throw 3 of 3	57-50
5:24		KJ Williams misses three point jump shot
5:22		Fousseyni Drame personal foul (Jordan Skipper-Brown draws the foul)
5:22		Jordan Skipper-Brown misses regular free throw 1 of 2
5:22	+1	Jordan Skipper-Brown makes regular free throw 2 of 2	57-51
4:57		Jordan Skipper-Brown blocks Matthew Lee's two point layup
4:55		Justice Hill defensive rebound
4:52	+2	Trae Hannibal makes two point layup (Justice Hill assists)	57-53
4:52		Daryl Banks III shooting foul (Trae Hannibal draws the foul)
4:52	+1	Trae Hannibal makes regular free throw 1 of 1	57-54
4:25	+2	Doug Edert makes two point jump shot (KC Ndefo assists)	59-54
4:05	+3	Justice Hill makes three point jump shot (Jordan Skipper-Brown assists)	59-57
3:37	+3	Doug Edert makes three point jump shot (Fousseyni Drame assists)	62-57
3:08		Justice Hill turnover (bad pass)
2:58	+2	Doug Edert makes two point layup (KC Ndefo assists)	64-57
2:58	+2	Doug Edert makes two point layup (KC Ndefo assists)	64-57
2:34		Justice Hill misses three point jump shot
2:32		Fousseyni Drame defensive rebound
2:12		Doug Edert misses three point jump shot
2:10		Tevin Brown defensive rebound
2:09		Fousseyni Drame personal foul (Tevin Brown draws the foul)
2:09	+1	Tevin Brown makes regular free throw 1 of 2	64-58
2:09		Tevin Brown misses regular free throw 2 of 2
2:09		Hassan Drame defensive rebound
1:44		Justice Hill blocks Matthew Lee's two point layup
1:42		Peacocks offensive rebound
1:40		Daryl Banks III misses three point jump shot
1:38		Racers defensive rebound
1:28		Justice Hill turnover (bad pass)
1:11		Matthew Lee misses two point jump shot
1:09		Tevin Brown defensive rebound
1:01	+2	Tevin Brown makes two point layup	64-60
0:51	+1	Daryl Banks III makes regular free throw 1 of 2	65-60
0:51		Jordan Skipper-Brown personal foul (Daryl Banks III draws the foul)
0:51	+1	Daryl Banks III makes regular free throw 1 of 2	65-60
0:51	+1	Daryl Banks III makes regular free throw 2 of 2	66-60
0:47		Tevin Brown misses three point jump shot
0:45		KC Ndefo defensive rebound
0:41		Justice Hill personal foul (Matthew Lee draws the foul)
0:41	+1	Matthew Lee makes regular free throw 1 of 2	67-60
0:41	+1	Matthew Lee makes regular free throw 2 of 2	68-60
0:37		Justice Hill misses three point jump shot
0:35		Doug Edert defensive rebound
0:30		DaQuan Smith personal foul (Doug Edert draws the foul)
0:30		Doug Edert misses regular free throw 1 of 2
0:30		Tevin Brown defensive rebound
0:30		Doug Edert misses regular free throw 2 of 2
0:30		Tevin Brown defensive rebound
0:24		KJ Williams misses three point jump shot
0:23		Hassan Drame defensive rebound
0:23		KJ Williams personal foul (Hassan Drame draws the foul)
0:23	+1	Hassan Drame makes regular free throw 1 of 2	69-60
0:23	+1	Hassan Drame makes regular free throw 2 of 2	70-60
0:17		KC Ndefo blocks Tevin Brown's three point jump shot
0:15		KC Ndefo defensive rebound

KC Ndefo defensive rebound