TEANECK, N.J. – A fast start, with a 15-3 lead after five minutes, set the tone as Fairleigh Dickinson defeated Saint Peter’s 83-74 at Rothman Center on Wednesday. The game between the Northern New Jersey intra-conference rivals saw FDU improve to 5-5, while Saint Peter’s lost their fourth straight, dropping to 2-9 on the season.
The points of emphasis:
Turnovers. FDU led 40-25 at the half. The Knights shot 47 percent while knocking down five three-pointers. Beyond the field goal shooting, there was a more crucial reason for the separation at intermission – turnovers. Saint Peter’s was guilty of 14 turnovers. In a 36 possession half, that meant the Peacocks had a 39 percent turnover rate. Teams typically strive to stay under 20 percent. Saint Peter’s coach Shaheen Holloway admitted while FDU came out strong offensively, the turnovers on the part of his club were as damaging. “We simply dug ourselves into a deep hole turning the ball over,” he said. Saint Peter’s improved to eight second-half turnovers. On the night they committed 22 out of their 74 possessions for a 30 percent TO rate. Hard to win with numbers like that.
Balance. FDU had five in double figures, a point coach Greg Herenda was most pleased about. Senior guard Darnell Edge led the way with 21 points. Xavier Malone-Key added 18 followed by Mike Holloway Jr. (13), Jahlil Jenkins (12) and Kaleb Bishop (10). Jenkins, a sophomore guard, had an impressive overall performance for the Knights. Beside his point total, Jenkins handed out a game-high six assists (one turnover), pulled down four rebounds and had four steals. FDU’s stat crew keeps track of plus/minus and Holloway Jr. had a +17, the leading figure in that category for the game.
Resiliency. Down 23 early in the second half Saint Peter’s battled back to get it to a three-possession game in the stretch. Credit some defensive pressure on Saint Peter’s part as well as an offensive spark from senior guard Davauhnte Turner, the game’s leading scorer with 28 points. “This team always fights to the end,” Holloway said. “They have a great attitude, come to practice with a good mindset and work hard. They never give up being down (in points). This is a team of battlers.”
Numbers
Possessions:
Saint Peter’s 74
FDU 71
Offensive efficiency:
FDU 117
Saint Peter’s 100
Both teams had an eFG percentage of 56 percent. The difference, as noted, turnovers. Saint Peter’s, as noted, was at 30% while FDU checked in at 20%.
FDU also led in free throw rate (FTA/FGA) 71-39. The Knights drew fouls not just with an inside presence as Holloway noted. The guards, Edge and Jenkins especially, showed the ability to constantly penetrate and get into the gut of the defense, leading to more opportunities to get to the line.
Different roads are ahead for both in the immediate. Saint Peter’s has a ten day layoff before hosting Hampton December 29. They open the MAAC portion of the schedule again at home, January 3rd versus Siena.
FDU takes to the road for two non-conference (UMass, South Florida) followed by Northeast Conference visits to Robert Morris and St. Francis (PA). The Knights will not be home again until January 10th, when they host NEC opponent Central Connecticut.
