ATLANTIC CITY, NJ (Mar. 17, 2024) – The Saint Peter’s University Peacocks have secured the 2024 Hercules Tires Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Men’s Basketball Championship title on Saturday night at Historic Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Saint Peter’s defeated Fairfield, 68-63, winning the program’s fifth overall trophy and its second in the past three seasons, after also securing the 2022 crown.
No. 5 Saint Peter’s – 68 | No. 2 Fairfield – 63
Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall | ATLANTIC CITY, NJ
Box Score (XML)
Box Score (PDF)
Saint Peter’s used a second half surge to knock off Fairfield, 68-63. The first half was dominated by the Stags. Fairfield jumped out to a 19-11 run to start the game. The Stags lead would be cut to three points (22-19), but Fairfield would respond with a 7-0 run to take its largest lead of the night at 29-19. By halftime, Fairfield was up 32-25. In the second half, Saint Peter’s outscored Fairfield 43-31. After trailing for the majority of the first half, the Peacocks opened the second half by scoring 17 of the first 26 points, a 17-9 differential, to take their first lead since 7-5, with 11:23 to go in the half. Saint Peter’s would never relinquish the lead again, gaining an advantage as large as nine twice in the half before pulling away late to secure the win and MAAC title.
Saint Peter’s Notes and Notables
- Corey Washington emerged in the second half, scoring 20 of his game-high 24 points in the final 20 minutes.
- Washington connected on 9-of-14 of his field goals, going 9-of-12 in the second half.
- He also grabbed a team-high nine rebounds and blocked a game-leading four shots.
- Roy Clarke scored 12 points, going a perfect 2-for-2 on threes and free throws.
- Latrell Reid finished the game with nine points, six rebounds, and four assists.
- Saint Peter’s shot 72.2 percent from the floor and 75.0 percent from beyond the arc in the second half.
- Saint Peter’s outrebounded Fairfield 36-34 and the bench outscored the Stags 17-14.
- Saint Peter’s will find out their opponent during the NCAA Men’s Basketball Selection Show, which airs live on CBS on Sunday at 6:00 p.m.
Fairfield Notes and Notables
- Caleb Fields led Fairfield with 17 points, nine rebounds, and five assists.
- Alexis Yetna finished with a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds.
- Brycen Goodine added 10 points.
- Fairfield held the advantage in points off of turnovers (14-2), points in the paint (34-30), and fast break points (10-4).
Washington was selected as the MVP of the championship. Joining him on the MAAC All-Championship Team were Michael Houge and Mouhamed Sow from Saint Peter’s, Caleb Fields and Jalen Leach from runner-up Fairfield, Jadin Collins from Marist, and Matt Balanc from Quinnipiac.
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 11 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is in its 43rd year of competition during the 2023-24 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius University, Fairfield University, Iona University, Manhattan College, Marist College, Mount St. Mary’s University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena College. Merrimack College and Sacred Heart University will join the MAAC as full members in the 2024-25 academic year, expanding the conference to 13 institutions.
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