The bright lights of the NCAA Tournament came to the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on Friday night for one of the most talked-about games of the tournament. The Cinderella story Saint Peter’s Peacocks (No. 15) took on Jaden Ivy and the Purdue Boilermakers.
Saint Peter’s — from Jersey City, New Jersey — booked their trip to Philadelphia with wins over Kentucky and Murray State. The Peacocks were looking to make history as the first 15th seed to make the Elite 8, and few places are more suited to make such history than the city of Philadelphia.
In the first half, Purdue got off to a good start and, at one point, held a five-point lead. Turnovers would become a big story as they would have eight of them, but Saint Peter’s was up for the challenge of the big stage for a chance to make the Final Four. Saint Peter’s would end the half by making a huge shot that swung momentum into their favor heading into halftime.
The buzz in the Wells Fargo Center made it feel like are we were going to see history. Purdue started the 2nd half-ice cold and then started to heat up as the game continued. It was really happening; the Peacocks were hanging around and keeping things close.
Saint Peter’s took a 59-57 lead and held onto it down to the game’s final seconds, leading to a final score of 67-64. The Saint Peter’s Peacocks made NCAA history with this win by becoming the first 15th seed to make the Elite Eight.
Following the game, Saint Peter’s Coach Shaheen Holloway, about all the support that they have gotten and those fans from Jersey City, New Jersey, who made the trip to the Wells Fargo Center for the game:
“You don’t understand. First of all, my phone, I had to turn it off. Everybody wanted
— Shaheen Holloway
tickets. I can’t get tickets for everybody. I’ll tell you what, man, I can’t believe the support that we’re having. This is unbelievable. Jersey City has been unbelievable for us. But I want to give a shout-out to our student-athletes and the whole student body. They’re taking buses down here, they’re doing videos, watch parties. It’s been tremendous. I’m happy for the school and the community, and everybody involved. It’s been great. told CBS What are they going to say now. “
Saint Peter’s Doug Edert on making the foul shot that sealed the game:
“It wasn’t just me that did that. Our whole team, we handled the pressure at the end, took care of the
— Doug Edert
ball, did what we had to do, got fouled, made our free throws. But in regard to the very end, it’s amazing. I love moments like that. I work hard to get into moments like that and to execute what I have to do, and we did it together as a team. said that they are not satisfied. “
