Saint Peter’s Men’s Basketball Defeats Texas State, 49-44, To Advance to 2017 CIT Semifinals
MAAC Sports
EDISON, NJ – With a 49-44 defeat of Texas State University, the Saint Peter’s University Peacocks have advanced to the semifinals of the 2017 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament.
After struggling to score during the first ten minutes of this quarterfinals contest, and trailing 14-2, the Peacocks responded with a 19-2 run over the final 8:17 of the first half to tie the game at 23 with the Bobcats going into halftime. Saint Peter’s held Texas State scoreless over the final 7:50 of the first half.
Coming out of the second half, Texas State took a 36-29 lead. Saint Peter’s responded with a 9-0 run to take a 38-36 lead with 7:43 left on the clock. The Bobcats would tie the game at 38. With the score tied at 40 and 5:43 left to play, sophomore Antwon Portley buried a three from the corner to give Saint Peter’s a 43-40 lead. That would be the last field goal of the game for the Peacocks, who converted on six free-throws down the stretch to secure the win. The top defensive team in the MAAC, who held opponents to 61.6 points per game, held the Bobcats to five points over the last six minutes of this quarterfinals game.
All-MAAC First Team selection Quadir Welton scored 9 points, secured 12 rebounds and added three steals & three blocks in the victory. Welton had two big rejections late for the Peacocks, thwarting the Bobcats offense. Saint Peter’s held Texas State to 29.4 percent shooting from the field. Saint Peter’s is the first MAAC team to advance to the CIT semifinals since Fairfield in the 2011-12 season.
For more information on the 2017 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament, visit http://www.collegeinsider.com/tournament/ to see whom the Peacocks will play next. The semifinals take place on Wednesday, March 29 at either 7 or 9 pm. The game will be shown on the CBS Sports Network.
For more information on MAAC Men’s Basketball, visits maacsports.com/basketball and remember to follow the conversation on social media using #MAACHoops