No. 15 Saint Peter’s makes history, defeats Purdue to reach Elite Eight

PHILADELPHIA — Daryl Banks III scored the tying and go-ahead baskets that pushed Fifteenth-seeded Saint Peter’s to the brink of the Remaining 4, the tiny Peacocks thriving off a home-court edge to beat third-seeded Purdue 67-64 on Friday evening.

The Peacocks (22-11) grew to become the primary 15 seed to achieve the Elite Eight, including the Boilermakers to their NCAA Match string of upsets, and can face North Carolina within the East Area ultimate on Sunday.

The win got here on Nationwide Peacock Day.

Saint Peter’s had the followers contained in the packed Wells Fargo Heart on its aspect from the opening tip and the world erupted when Banks tied the sport 57-all on a turnaround jumper. He hit a driving layup with 2:17 left that made it 59-57.

The Peacocks stored their composure — hey, they’re used to those wins by now after knocking off No. 2 seed Kentucky and Murray State — and held off a Purdue staff that gamely tried to bully them inside.

“What they going to say now?” coach Shaheen Holloway mentioned about his staff’s doubters, a gaggle whose numbers are dwindling.

Virtually 30 years to the day that Duke’s Christian Laettner’s additional time buzzer-beater surprised Kentucky to win a regional ultimate on the since-razed Spectrum, Purdue (29-8) and Saint Peter’s pulled off their very own Philly traditional.

Saint Peter’s followers made the 93-mile journey south to assist pack the world and provides the Peacocks extra of an edge than they normally have at their bandbox often known as Run Child Run Enviornment. Contemplate, simply 434 followers had been listed as the entire attendance for Saint Peter’s dwelling opener this season towards LIU.

Extra followers than that turned out to provide the staff a Candy 16 sendoff from campus this week.

Much more basketball followers — sure, even these whose brackets the Peacocks assist bust — had been out of the blue rooting for the tiny commuter school in Jersey Metropolis, New Jersey, simply throughout the Hudson River from Decrease Manhattan.

Purdue’s Jaden Iven buried an NBA-distance 3 with 8 seconds left that pulled Purdue inside 65-64 and momentarily shushed the gang.

No worries. Doug Edert, whose wispy mustache and goofy persona earned him a fast-food hen endorsement deal, sank two free throws to seal the win.

The Peacocks hopped the press desk and saluted followers within the first few rows. They mobbed one another and hugged and beginning waving down followers and buddies earlier than they gathered on the basket to have a good time — yet one more time — the most important win in program historical past.

Banks led the Peacocks with 14 factors, Clarence Rupert scored 11 and Edert had 10. Trevion Williams had 16 factors and eight rebounds for Purdue.

Travis Pittman contributed to this report.