St. Peter’s Staggers Purdue To Gain Elite 8 in NCAA Tournament

– St. Peter’s coach Shaheen Holloway, right before his Peacocks took over the interview 🤣 pic.twitter.com/8cnS9r2XfQ

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 26, 2022

The Peacocks are now 22-11 and on what arguably is the most improbable run in college basketball postseason history.

HISTORY!!!!

YOUR PEACOCKS ARE HEADED TO THE ELITE EIGHT!!

🦚 67-64 🚂#StrutUp🦚 pic.twitter.com/0t7LVyW4ca

— Saint Peter’s Men’s Basketball (@PeacocksMBB) March 26, 2022

What is next for these unflappable Peacocks? They will face the winner of the UCLA-North Carolina game, which followed St. Peter’s stunner.

Yes, you are looking at an Elite Eight game that will feature little St. Peter’s of Jersey City, New Jersey, against one of the bluebloods of college hoops, either the Bruins or the Tar Heels.

That sounds more like a paycheck game at the start of a season rather than an NCAA Elite Eight clash.

There were believers at BetUS as bettors did wager on St. Peter’s, which was a +650 underdog on the moneyline against Purdue of the Big Ten. Interestingly, there were far more plays on the Peacocks than on the heavily favored Boilermakers.

Purdue led at one point 56-52 in the second half but St. Peter’s closed with a 15-8 run to bounce the Boilermakers.

The game was last tied at 57-57 when Daryl Banks Jr. hit a jumper to give St. Peter’s the lead.

Hassan Drame then hit a pair of free throws to make the gap four.

After a  pair of Purdue free throws, Matthew Lee hit a pair from the line for St. Peter’s.

Purdue did close within 65-64 on a 3-point shot by Jaden Ivey.

However, Doug Edert connected on two free throws and a last gasp by Purdue from long range failed to connect.

And, in case you are wondering, there are live tickets at America’s favorite SportsBook on the Peacocks. The odds range as high as 50,000-1.

THE ST. PETER’S PEACOCKS HAVE DONE IT

FIRST EVER 15-SEED TO ADVANCE TO THE ELITE EIGHT 🤯 pic.twitter.com/H8FMQJPrr5

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 26, 2022

St. Peter’s was 12-11 after a 14-point loss against Siena on Feb. 20.

10-0 since.

— Pete Abraham (@PeteAbe) March 26, 2022

From 12-11 to 22-11. That would be called bouncing back like …

St. Peter’s was 12-11 after a 14-point loss against Siena on Feb. 20.

10-0 since.

— Pete Abraham (@PeteAbe) March 26, 2022

And one more shot from the gallery:

St. Peter’s has more victories over #1, #2, or #3 seeds in the 8 days than Gonzaga has in the past twenty years.

Maybe we’ve been following the wrong small Jesuit school this whole time? 😉

— Danny Neckel (@DNeckel19) March 26, 2022