Box Score Box Score (PDF)

JERSEY CITY, N.J. – Marvin Dominique scored 26 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, including key offensive boards in the second half to stave off a Cornell run, but Saint Peter's was able to hang on for a 67-59 victory on Saturday afternoon at the Yanitelli Center. The Big Red slipped to 0-12, while the Peacocks improved to 4-7.

Junior Devin Cherry and sophomore Nolan Cressler each scored 21 points and combined for 11 rebounds, while the defense held the Peacocks to 37 percent shooting. All of that and outrebounding Saint Peter's 34-32 wasn't enough to help Cornell snap an 18-game skid dating back to last season. The Big Red was without starting point guard and second-leading scorer Robert Hatter for much of the game after suffering an injury early on and reserve center Deion Giddens, who was sick and missed the trip.

Dominique scored 26 and his five offensive boards were huge, as were the 11 Saint Peter's steals on 14 Cornell turnovers that led to a number of run-out baskets. Trevis Wyche and Dei Washington each had 11 points and Wyche added six helpers in the win.

The Big Red defense came to play in the first half, limiting the Peacocks to 32 percent shooting overall and 22 percent from beyond the arc (2-of-9), but the difference in a three-point half was Dominique. The big man had 14 points, nine rebounds, a block and a steal, while also draining his only two 3-point attempts. Cornell wasn't much better at 36 percent and 4-of-14 beyond the arc (29 percent), but held its own on the backboards (20-20).

Saint Peter's scored the game's first six points and led by as many as seven points early (10-3), but Cornell answered with a 10-2 run to take its first lead at 13-12. The game would see-saw through the rest of the first half with eight total lead changes, though the home team would get the last switch in momentum. The Big Red led 27-26 with under two minutes to play before a Wyche layup and two free throws sent Saint Peter's into the locker room with a narrow 30-27 edge.

Cressler had 10 points for the Big Red, while Cherry had four points and five rebounds for Cornell. Eight different Big Red players reached the scoring column, but only Cressler had more than five points. Wyche had seven in the first 20 minutes for the Peacocks, including the last four of the half, to go along with Dominique's impressive effort. The Cornell defense limited Desi Washington, the team's second leading scorer who went off for 37 points in an overtime win over Seton Hall, to three points on 1-of-5 shooting in the first half.

The second half saw the Peacocks get off to a 10-2 run to extend its lead to 11 at 40-29, but Cornell clawed back to within four on two occasions, the last with 41 seconds left. Saint Peter's was able to hold on with eight made free throws in the final 46 seconds to pull out the win.

The Big Red returns to action when it travels to meet St. Bonaventure on Saturday, Jan. 4 at 2 p.m. in a game that will be televised by the NBC Sports Network. The Big Red will kick off the new year in Olean, N.Y. in the 15th meeting between the programs (Cornell leads 8-6).