If you were watching the first half of the Marist vs Saint Peter's matchup on January 2, 2026, you probably thought the Red Foxes had it in the bag. They were playing smart. They were aggressive. Honestly, they looked like a team ready to make a serious run in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC).
But college basketball is a cruel mistress.
👉 See also: Man Utd vs Leeds: Why This Rivalry Still Feels Like War
The game, played at the Yanitelli Center in Jersey City (also known as Run Baby Run Arena), ended in a 69-59 victory for the Peacocks. It was a classic tale of two halves that left Marist fans scratching their heads. For Saint Peter's, it was a statement. They improved to 4-0 in conference play, joining Merrimack as the only unbeatens left in the MAAC at that point.
What Went Wrong for Marist?
Basically, the lights went out.
Marist walked into the locker room at halftime with a 38-35 lead. They had built that cushion largely by living at the free-throw line, where they went a blistering 16-for-18 in the first twenty minutes. Elijah Lewis was having his way, putting up 13 points before the break, including a massive four-point play that seemed to suck the air out of the building.
Then the second half started.
Marist managed only 21 points in the final 20 minutes. That’s not a typo. They shot a measly 27.6% from the field and a painful 1-for-9 from beyond the arc in the second half. When your leading scorer, Lewis, doesn't add a single point to his tally after halftime, you’re going to have a bad time.
The Rebounding Nightmare
You can’t talk about Marist vs Saint Peter's without mentioning the glass.
Saint Peter's absolutely bullied them. The Peacocks finished with a 43-35 rebounding edge, but the real story was the second-chance points. Saint Peter's turned those boards into 18 points. Marist? Only seven.
- Total Rebounds: Saint Peter's 43, Marist 35
- Second-Chance Points: Saint Peter's 18, Marist 7
- Offensive Glass: Lucas Scroggins alone had four offensive boards.
It was physical. It was gritty. It was exactly the kind of "Jersey City" basketball that the Peacocks have made their brand.
The Peacocks’ Secret Weapon: The Bench
Most people expected Brent Bland to be the hero. He’s the Peacocks' leading scorer, averaging nearly 16 points a night. But Marist actually did a great job on him, holding him to just five points.
In most games, that’s a win for the defense.
Not here. The Saint Peter's bench stepped up in a way that should honestly scare the rest of the MAAC. Eric Morgan Jr. came off the pine to drop 12 points, including a dagger three-pointer late in the game. Bol Agu and Jahki Gupton combined for 10 points and 13 rebounds.
When your bench outscores the starters, or at least keeps the engine running while the stars struggle, you’re a dangerous team. Coach Bashir Mason has these guys playing with a level of "next man up" energy that is hard to coach.
High-Flying Highlights
There was a moment in the first half that shifted the momentum. Even though Marist was leading, Lucas Scroggins threw down back-to-back alley-oop dunks that electrified the crowd of 633 at the Yanitelli Center. It didn't immediately put the Peacocks ahead, but it changed the vibe. You could feel the "Run Baby Run" energy starting to percolate.
A History of Grudge Matches
This isn't just one game in January. The Marist vs Saint Peter's rivalry goes back to 1981 on the men's side. After this latest win, Saint Peter's leads the all-time series 41-28.
They’ve been particularly dominant at home, holding a 24-10 record against the Red Foxes in Jersey City. For Marist, the Yanitelli Center has become a bit of a house of horrors. They’ve now lost two straight to the Peacocks, following a tight 57-52 loss back in March 2025.
Interestingly, the women's programs have a totally different dynamic. Marist women have historically dominated this matchup, at one point winning 20 straight games against the Peacocks between 2007 and 2015. But in the men’s game? It’s a different beast entirely.
What This Means for the MAAC Standings
For Marist, this was their first time losing two consecutive games all season. They fell to 8-5 overall and 2-2 in the MAAC. The blueprint to beating them seems to be emerging:
- Pressure the perimeter: Marist has struggled when they shoot below 20% from deep.
- Crash the boards: If you out-rebound them by seven or more, you likely win.
- Physicality: The Red Foxes relied heavily on the whistle in the first half, but when the game got chippy and the fouls dried up in the second, they couldn't buy a bucket.
Saint Peter's, on the other hand, is sitting pretty at 7-5 (4-0 MAAC). They aren't the most efficient offensive team—KenPom had them ranked 291st coming into this game—but they lead the country in steal rate. They win with defense and grit.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Bettors
If you’re following the Marist vs Saint Peter's rematch scheduled for March 1 at McCann Arena, keep these factors in mind:
- Watch the Home/Road Split: Marist is much more comfortable in Poughkeepsie. The shooting woes they suffered in Jersey City are less likely to happen on their home floor.
- Monitor the Glass: If Marist’s bigs like Tarik Watson can't neutralize the Peacocks' offensive rebounding, the result will be the same.
- The "Bland" Factor: Don't expect Brent Bland to be held to five points again. If he finds his rhythm and the bench continues to produce, Saint Peter's might be the team to beat in the MAAC tournament.
- Second Half Execution: Marist needs to find a secondary scoring option when Elijah Lewis is being denied the ball. Rhyjon Blackwell showed flashes (13 points), but the team needs more consistent interior scoring.
The Red Foxes have a chance to bounce back quickly. They returned home on January 4 and absolutely dismantled Iona 83-38, proving that the Saint Peter's collapse might have been a fluke of environment rather than a fatal flaw. But until they can beat the Peacocks at their own physical game, the road to the MAAC championship still runs through Jersey City.