By: Chris Dacey
Sunday afternoon was not pleasant for the Quinnipiac men’s basketball team as they were blown out by the Saint Peter’s Peacocks in Jersey City by a score of 84-58.
After starting MAAC play at 2-0 for the first time ever since joining the conference, The Bobcats cooled down as they have now lost two straight against Canisius and Saint Peter’s.
Quinnipiac shot 29 percent from the floor and 26.5 percent from three. Compared to Saint Peter’s who shot the lights out at home by shooting 61.5 percent and 57.1 percent from deep. Leading the Bobcats in scoring once again was senior Cam Young with 18 points.
“We got a little complacent and we have to play harder and more together as a team,” said freshman point guard Rich Kelly after the game.
Kelly noted that Quinnipiac did not play well on either side of the ball and that this was the first time the team has been blown out like this so far, this season.
“They are bringing it to us, so we have to bring it to them,” said Kelly. “We have to be the aggressor as opposed to them.”
It was tough to be the aggressor today for the Bobcats as the Peacocks are known for their defense and showed why today as they held the Bobcats to only 10 points halfway through the first quarter.
The Bobcats just reached 10 pts with 9 mins left in the first half #MAACHoops
— Chris Dacey (@ChrisDacey_) January 7, 2018
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Other than the struggles on offense, the defensive struggles were apparent too. Junior forward Abdulai Bundu knew his team has to be better.
“Defensively we just weren’t ready,” said Bundu. “Mentally, physically we just weren’t there. We knew what was going on but somehow we just weren’t able to come out here and set our mind to preform what we have planned.”
Bundu had his hands full down low. The Peacocks scored 32 points in the paint on Sunday and held Bundu to only two points that came on free throws.
“We know what we got to do when we are playing teams,” said Bundu. “We just got to convert and we got to get back to our defensive end to turn around and talk.”
The Peacocks looked to push the ball all game and where able to get quick buckets throughout the game. Saint Peter’s had four different players in double digits for scoring including Elijah Gonzales who finished with 15 points and 9 assists.
Elijah Gonzales is a problem #MAACHoops
— Chris Dacey (@ChrisDacey_) January 7, 2018
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As for the future, more conference games are coming up. Quinnipiac hosts Marist next and then back to New Jersey for a game at Rider. Kelly is looking for his team to come together and play harder. But he knows his game has to improve as well.
“Personally, I think I have to be better all-around every aspect of the game,” said Kelly. “As a team, I think we just have to play harder and play more together.”
Bundu agrees with Kelly in that the team just has to be better than it was today. Bundu also said that defensively the Bobcats need to step it up if they want to be completive down the stretch.
One bright spot for the Bobcats was senior Chaise Daniels finishing with 16 points in 21 minutes played. After taking a short break from the team the senior has bounced back nicely coming off the bench for the Bobcats.
Head coach Baker Dunleavy was not available to speak after the game due to a stomach virus, according to the team. The Bobcats have two days to rest up as Marist comes to Hamden for another MAAC game on Wednesday.
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