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| COURTESY NSU ATHLETICS |
With the Spartans (4-3) leading 56-48, Travis Hester (Crozet, Va./The Miller School [Harcum]) hit a trey with 56 seconds left. After Jamel Fuentes made two free throws eight seconds later, Hester nailed another triple with 43 seconds left to make it a four-point game. A Norfolk State turnover, helped trim the margin to 58-55 after Tyler Gaskins (Roswell, Ga./Centennial [Lawson State]) hit 1 of 2 at the free throw line with 37 seconds left. Malik Thomas made the front end of two free throws and Gaskins drained a 3-pointer from the corner to make it a one-point game at 59-58 with 18 seconds left. D'Shon Taylor gave the Spartans a 60-58 lead after making 1 of 2 at the line with 15 ticks remaining. Gaskins shot to tie the game from inside the 3-point line in the right corner hit the back of the rim and out as time expired.
Marvin Dominique (Miramar, Fla./Miramar [Fordham]) paced the Peacocks (2-5) with 17 points to earn a spot on the All-Tournament team. Gaskins and Hester each added 12 points apiece in the loss.
Short was named the Tournament Most Valuable Player after scoring 20 points for the Spartans. RaShid Gaston also earned a spot on the All-Tournament team after tallying 14 points and 10 rebounds while Taylor added 14 points in the winning effort.
Saint Peter's held the lead for most of the game before the Norfolk State pressure defense helped to rally to give the Spartans the advantage and then Norfolk State held off a comeback in the waning minute of the contest to earn the Barclays Classic title in the first meeting between the two programs.
With the Peacocks holding a 48-37 lead after two Quadir Welton (Philadelphia, Pa./Math, Civics and Science Charter) free throws with 6:54 left, the Spartans scored 14-unanswered points to take the lead they would not relinquish.
Short started the decisive run with a jumper at 6:32 before Gaston hit 1 of 2 at the line at 5:35. Short then converted a traditional 3-point play with 5:18 on the clock to trim the margin to 48-43. Gaston made consecutive baskets inside and Short gave Norfolk State the lead for good on a layup at 3:04 for a 49-48 edge. Gaston then recorded a tip-in basket and a layup before Taylor hit two free throws and Short capped the run with the one charity toss with 65 seconds left for the 56-48 margin. Fueled by two 3-pointers by Hester and a trey by Gaskins Saint Peter's nearly rallied for the victory as the game-tying shot hit off the rim as time expired.
Powered by five points from Short and four from Gaston, the Spartans jumped out to a 13-3 advantage to start the championship bout.
The Peacocks then closed the half on a 24-7 run to take a 27-20 advantage going into the locker room. Dominique sparked the run with eight points.
Saint Peter's then took its largest lead at 34-20 after starting the second half with seven-straight points. Trevis Wyche (Neptune, N.J./Saint Peter's Prep) opened the run with a layup 32 seconds into the stanza before Dominique hit a jumper at 18:43 and Hester drained a 3-ball at 16:01 for the 14-point advantage.
Norfolk State answered with a 12-4 spurt thanks to eight points from Taylor to cut the margin to 38-32 with 11:15 on the clock.
Welton answered with two free throws at 10:24 and Gaskins drained a trey at 9:37 to regain an 11-point edge at 43-32. The Spartans then used a 22-5 run to take the lead en route to the 60-58 victory.
Welton finished the contest with five points and seven rebounds while Wyche added five points, six assists and five boards.
The Peacocks made 12 3-pointers in a game for the second time in three games and have posted 32 treys in the last three games after only hitting 17 in the first four contest.
Saint Peter's, who has played four times in the last seven games in the Barclays Classic, returns to action when the squad hosts Canisius in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play on Wednesday. Tip off is slated for 7 p.m.
BOX SCORE
COURTESY SAINT PETER'S UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS
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