The Peacocks improved to 8-1 at home with six straight wins to show for it. Next up is a home game vs. Iona (12-7, 4-4) on Monday afternoon, 2 PM, on ESPN+.
JERSEY CITY, NJ — After the Peacocks achieved two great wins recently against Merrimack and Quinnipiac, they knew better than to take the Rider Broncos lightly.
For one thing, as fourth-year Peacocks head coach Bashir Mason loves to say, “every MAAC game is a challenge.” Second, every game against the Peacocks is now a big game for the other MAAC teams, since they are the standard in the MAAC, along with Merrimack.
On Saturday afternoon, Rider gave Saint Peter’s all it could handle in this game as advertised. The game was tied seven times, with 10 lead changes. In the end, the Peacocks earned a 69-58 victory over the Broncos (2-15, 1-7 MAAC) at Run Baby Run Arena.
“Major props and respect to Rider,” Mason said after his conference-leading team improved to 10-6 and 7-1 in conference play. “They are big and physical. They dominate the glass, and their two guards (Flash Burton and Caleb Smith) were excellent. I’m happy for our guys. Our guys buckled down and made plays they needed to make.”
With the game tied at 56 with 7:40 to go in regulation, the Peacocks finished the game on a 13-2 run. Zahir Williamson scored six of his 20 points (game-high), including hitting two free throws, in that run.
Bashir Mason on the sidelines vs. Rider (photo, SPU Athletics)
“Zahir wasn’t playing well in the first half,” Mason said of Williamson’s disparity of scoring eight points in the first half and 12 points in the second half. “I had to psych him out to believe in himself. To his credit, he was never down on himself.”
Williamson earned a double-double by grabbing 11 rebounds.
During that run, the Peacocks allowed the Broncos one shot in the final seven-and-a-half minutes of the game.
Rider set the tone early on what the game would be about, taking an 8-6 lead on Burton (18 points), scoring six of the visitors’ eight points, including hitting three straight layups after Smith (10 points) tied the game at 2 with a layup. The Broncos also often imposed their physical will on the home team, who showed they could handle it by being physical, too.
The Peacocks answered by going on a 6-0 run, taking a 12-8 lead.
When Smith tied it at 12 on a layup, Bland engineered a Peacocks’ 17-5 run by blocking Burton’s shot and forcing a turnover in the process. Rather than making a shot or going to the lane to score, he passed the ball to T.J. Robinson, who scored on a dunk. At halftime, the home team led 34-29.
“Bland is an extension of the locker room,” Mason said of his senior star. “He connects so well with the guys.”
Bland’s unselfish play epitomizes everything that Mason loves about his team this season. “I got good players that are good people,” he said. “They take athletics seriously. They have a good spirit. They have a great attitude. I enjoy coaching them.”
Can the Peacocks be even better than they showed?
“We were picked 11th in conference play,” Mason said, deflecting expectations. “We are overachieving. I don’t know how it’s going to go.
The Peacocks improved to 8-1 at home with six straight wins to show for it. Next up is a home game vs. Iona (12-7, 4-4) on Monday afternoon, 2 PM, on ESPN+.
