Quinnipiac University
Saint Peter''s
QU Men's Basketball Falls at Home to Saint Peter's, 66-60
1/2/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
HAMDEN, Conn. – Despite a game-high 26 points from Zaid Hearst (Bethesda, Md.), the Quinnipiac men's basketball team fell short to Saint Peter's University, 66-60, before 1,385 people at the TD Bank Sports Center on Friday. The loss, Quinnipiac's first in over two weeks, drops the Bobcats to 6-6 on the year and 0-3 in league play.
The MAAC's top defensive team stayed true to its form, holding Quinnipiac to 32.2 percent shooting for the game. Hearst was 9-of-18 from the field and Chaise Daniels (Meriden, Conn.) made both of his attempts, but other than that Quinnipiac struggled mightily on offense.
Saint Peter's, who was led by 17 points from Desi Washington, provided a big blow with a 10-0 run midway through the first half. The run came after Hearst picked up his second foul and was forced to sit out until the second half. The visitors carried a 29-21 lead at the break.
SPU controlled the tempo and dominated the paint offensively to sustain the lead. In search of a big basket or defensive stand, Hearst brought the crowd to its feet late in the second half after a deep three from the top of the key. The marker cut the deficit to six points, 62-56, with 1:39 remaining, but that was as close as Quinnipiac would get. SPU made enough free-throws down the stretch to sustain the two-possession advantage.
Hearst was the best player on the floor, adding 11 rebounds to go along with his 26 points. He also made 7-of-9 from the free-throw line. Kasim Chandler (Newark, N.J.) finished with five points and six rebounds, Evan Conti (Bayside, N.Y.) and James Ford, Jr. (Hopewell, Va.) had four, and Ayron Hutton (Virginia Beach, Va.) added three to wrap up the scoring at the guard position. Quinnipiac was 2-for-18 from long range.
Ousmane Drame (Boston, Mass.) was held to seven points in 26 minutes. He added seven rebounds and four blocks in a tough game for the senior forward. Justin Harris (Paterson, N.J.) finished with seven points and seven rebounds with Daniels adding four points and two rebounds. Quinnipiac outrebounded Saint Peter's, 48-37, but surrendered a 28-18 edge in points in the paint.
Saint Peter's improved to 7-7 on the season and 1-2 in league play. The Peacocks also moved to 4-1 all-time against the Bobcats. Quadir Welton aided SPU with 13 points and 13 rebounds and Trevis Wyche finished with 12 points – all in the first half. Marvin Dominique, the team's leading scorer, had just five points on 1-of-7 shooting.
A difficult schedule ahead, Quinnipiac will play three games in five days - at Iona (1/6), at Monmouth (1/9) and vs. Marist (1/11). The game against the Gaels, which is set for Tuesday, Jan. 6 at 7 p.m., will be played in New Rochelle, N.Y. at the Hynes Athletic Center.
Fans interested in purchasing tickets for the 2014-15 campaign can call the QU Ticket Office at 203-582-3905, visit the official website of Quinnipiac athletics, www.QuinnipiacBobcats.com or make a trip to the TD Bank Sports Center Ticket Office.
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