JERSEY CITY, N.J. – The strain and stress was not a product of a warm gym on an unseasonably mild November night. Well, part of it could be attributed to climate. The real reason for the stress, which ultimately gave way to relief, was in the outcome. St. Peter’s survived a tough contest to defeat Central Connecticut State 64-61 at the Yanitelli Center in Jersey City. The Peacocks are now 2-0. Coach John Dunne is a combination thrilled and relieved. Welcome to coaching as the cliché tells us.
“After winning five games all of last season it’s great to get the first two,” Dunne said following the contest. The Peacocks got out to an early lead before losing it and being forced to play catch-up a good part of the game. Central Connecticut is still tiring to find their inside game. The Blue Devils enjoy a good perimeter attack and when the shots were falling the offense clicked and the lead built.
The second half saw St. Peter’s come out stronger and showing more energy, especially on defense. They forced turnovers and converted them to transition opportunities. The Peacocks cut down on their own turnover problems, 14 the first half, by committing just five the final twenty minutes. St. Peter’s continuously drew to a one-possession game. Missed scoring opportunities and/or free throws (6 of 15 on the night) kept the home team behind. With a dozen minutes to play, Central Connecticut owned a 10-point lead.
Backed by a vocal crowd, St. Peter’s hung in, gradually chipping away at the Blue Devil lead. At crunch time it was a two-possession affair. Yvon Raymond’s layup at 2:17 gave Dunne’s club a lead they would not surrender. Even until the final second the outcome was not settled. With eight seconds left St. Peter’s had a two-point lead and guard Desi Washington going to the line for two free throws. Washington hit the first and missed the potential game-clincher. Central Connticut rebounded and pushed the ball with no time outs remaining. A highly contested three was launched that was nowhere near the mark, and for the second time in three days coach Howie Dickenman’s Blue Devils dropped a one possession game. They had lost in overtime to Fairfield on Saturday.
Dunne saw similarities between this win and the upset at Rutgers on Friday.
“In both games we were tougher in the stretch,” he said. “There were times we lost focus but had it especially on defense when we needed it most.” The St. Peter’s mentor was especially pleased with crowd support and hopes they liked what vthey saw. “We are down ten with ten (actually 12 minutes) to play,” he said. “If we fold and lose by 18 I doubt they are returning, but tonight we pulled it out and they were very much behind us.”
Washington led St. Peter’s with 23 points and Raymond added 16. Darius Conley, the projected ‘go to’ option entering the season, had only seven points. Not a bad sign, given your main option does not hit double figures but you have others stepping up and leading the victory. Sophomore guard Kyle Vinales paced all scorers with 24 points.
Vinales, in fact, took the last shot. As it missed Dickenman threw his grease board in disgust. Probably upset a less contested shot was not attempted. After two valiant efforts, the Blue Devils of the Northeast Conference, are 0-2. Winless but so close to 2-0. Welcome to coaching.
