Photo courtesy Quinnipiac Athletics
By Chris Dacey
Coming off a four-game in conference stretch in which Quinnipiac went 2-2, the Bobcats looked to improve to 4-2 in conference play in Jersey City in a game against the Saint Peter’s Peacocks. The game was a defensive battle through most of the game and the Peacocks were able to pull ahead due to some clutch free throws to win 58-54.
The Peacocks had four different players score in double digits led by senior forward Quadir Welton who had 15 points on the game.
“It was a grind win, we did not have our best effort today,” said Saint Peter’s head coach John Dunne.
But the Peacocks gave enough effort to get the win over an up-and-down Bobcat team that committed 15 turnovers in the first half alone. These turnovers led to 24 points the other way for Saint Peter’s in a half that the Bobcats struggled in though they only trailed by six going into the locker room at the intermission.
“In my opinion the game was lost by us in the first half,” Quinnipiac head coach Tom Moore said. “Not on the scoreboard but we blew way too many offensive opportunities.”
Another point that Moore alluded to was the ball pressure Saint Peter’s applied. The Peacocks didn’t press full court, but were all over the Quinnipiac guards as soon as they crossed half court. And with the inexperience in that area Quinnipiac struggled handling the pressure early in the game.
With the two Quinnipiac freshmen starting their fifth game in a row for the Bobcats, they were shown early what St. Peter’s goals were going forward. Allow zero time and space in the backcourt.
“I think I did a poor job getting the point across of how difficult it was going to be to run offense,” Moore said.
But in the second half the Bobcats made some adjustments and were able to hit some quick buckets to get themselves back into the game. At one point, the Bobcats led when senior forward Donovan Smith got a put back layup of a missed shot. After that, the game was back and forth for the rest of the way.
One player that stepped up for the Bobcats was junior guard Reggie Oliver. Oliver had 12 points on the game and all of them came in the second half. The guard lost his starting position when he had the flu a couple of games back. Oliver provided a much needed spark off the bench and was the only Bobcat player to reach double digits in points.
“I just was playing basketball,” Oliver said. “Just trying give my team an extra boost and get them going so we can get back on the defensive end and try and get some stops.”
Whether it was a three or a tough shot driving to the basket, Oliver was able to get his shots to fall. But, he was the only one finding offensive success. Both forwards, Smith and Chaise Daniels, were in foul trouble. Also, Daniels reinjured his hand mid-way through the first half.
Despite its offensive struggles and Daniels’ injury, Quinnipiac was in the game until the final buzzer. It was an offensive rebound with under ten seconds left that proved to be the difference in the game. Welton grabbed it and was able to put it back in for his biggest two points of the night. Then, the Peacocks iced the game on the free throw line.
With the loss, the Bobcats (6-10, 3-3 MAAC) will travel up to the Times Union Center in Albany to face the Siena Bulldogs (5-11, 2-3 MAAC) on Thursday Jan. 12.
“It will be our first time in the Times Union Center for six of these guys,” Moore said. “We will get a peek of where we are going to be for the MAAC Tournament.”
