PHILADELPHIA -- The Saint Peter's University men's basketball team did Jersey City proud Friday night with a historic upset win over Purdue in the Sweet 16.
They are the first ever 15 seed to make it to the Elite Eight.
The game was a nail biter, coming down to the final seconds, but the underdog Peacocks kept fighting to come out on top, advancing to Sunday's Elite Eight.
To borrow a phrase from the '73 Mets, ya gotta believe, and if you don't believe, don't worry, coach Shaheen Holloway and his team certainly do.
They've beaten Kentucky, Murray State and now Purdue, and they are one win away from the Final Four.
The Peacocks kept their Cinderella story alive, on National Peacock Day of all days. They're called a Cinderella team because it's like they're living in a fairy tale, but Walt Disney himself couldn't have imagined a better story.
As CBS2's Otis Livingston reports, the Peacocks controlled the tempo for most of the night, and it started to feel for real when they took the lead with two minutes left.
Saint Peter's managed to hang on to win at the buzzer, 67-64.
"First of all, my phone's been, I had to turn it off. Everybody wants tickets. I can't get tickets for everybody, but I'll tell you what, man, I can't believe the support that we have. THis is unbelievable, and Jersey City's been unbelievable for us. But I want to give a shout out to our student athletes, man, and the whole student body. They're taking buses down here. They're doing videos, watch parties. It's been tremendous. I'm just happy for the school and the community and everybody involved, it's been great," Holloway said.
Daryl Banks III scored the tying and go-ahead baskets that pushed Saint Peter's to the brink of the Final Four, the suddenly popular Peacocks thriving off a home-court edge to beat third-seeded Purdue.
The Peacocks (22-11) added the Boilermakers to their string of upsets and will face either North Carolina in the East Region final on Sunday.
Saint Peter's had the fans inside the packed Wells Fargo Center on its side from the opening tip and the arena erupted when Banks tied the game 57-all on a turnaround jumper. He hit a driving layup with 2:17 left that made it 59-57.
The Peacocks kept their composure - hey, they're used to these wins by now after knocking off No. 2 seed Kentucky and seventh-seeded Murray State - and held off a Purdue team that gamely tried to bully them inside.
"What they going to say now?" Holloway said about his team's doubters, a group whose numbers are dwindling.
The Boilermakers (29-8), 12 1/2-point favorites according to FanDuel Sportsbook, never led by more than six.
Almost 30 years to the day that Duke's Christian Laettner stunned Kentucky with an overtime buzzer-beater to win a regional final at the since-razed Spectrum, Purdue and Saint Peter's pulled off their own Philly classic.
Saint Peter's fans made the 93-mile ride south to help pack the arena and give the Peacocks more of an edge than they usually have at their bandbox known as Run Baby Run Arena. Consider, just 434 fans were listed as the total attendance for Saint Peter's home opener this season against LIU.
More than that turned out to give the team a Sweet 16 sendoff from campus this week.
Even more basketball fans - yes, even those whose brackets the Peacocks helped bust - were suddenly rooting for Saint Peter's, an unassuming campus just across the Hudson River from Lower Manhattan.
Jaden Ivey buried an NBA-distance 3 with 8 seconds left that pulled Purdue within 65-64 and momentarily shushed the crowd.
No worries. Doug Edert, whose wispy mustache and goofy persona earned him a fast-food chicken endorsement deal, sank two free throws to seal the win.
Edert then led the madness on the court and took it to the table. He saluted fans in the first few rows as the rest of the Peacocks mobbed each other and hugged before they gathered at the basket to celebrate - one more time - the biggest win in program history.
"Yeah. I found a little opening and started moving stuff," Edert said of his table hop. "I don't know, I was so excited."
The Peacocks dropped and made snowmen on the court and soon there was a huge celebration of fans jamming the concourse chanting "S-P-U! S-P-U!" The Saint Peter's students and fans celebrated like they won a championship. Saint Peter's had never won an NCAA Tournament game and now, they'll just keep on dancing for at least one more game.
The school is tiny. The players are small. It makes no sense. Yet this is what March is about, right?
The Peacocks were the third No. 15 seed ever to reach the Sweet 16. Florida Gulf Coast in 2013 and Oral Roberts last year both failed to reach the regional final. Only two 12 seeds have made it to a regional final.
Meanwhile, a Final Four berth remains elusive for Boilermakers coach Matt Painter and his perennial Big Ten contender.
"I wish I could have coached better, wish we could have played a little bit better," Painter said. "But that's part of competition."
Banks led the Peacocks with 14 points, Clarence Rupert scored 11 and Edert had 10. Trevion Williams had 16 points and eight rebounds for Purdue.
The Boilermakers missed 16 of 21 3-pointers and made 15 turnovers. Ivey was only 4 of 12 for nine points.
"I'm still in shock, honestly," Williams said.
Join the club.
Before the game, Saint Peter's players lay on their backs at half court as they did their stretching routine, most looking up at the big screen that replayed highlights from last weekend's wins that got the team to Philadelphia
By now, the Peacocks' run is etched as the story of the tournament. Beating Kentucky and coach John Calipari was shocking enough. Eight days later, they're still in the bracket.
The Peacocks lived by Holloway's mantra: "I got guys from New Jersey and New York City. You think we're scared of anything?"
They certainly weren't scared of the Boilermakers.
Purdue used its massive size advantage and dumped the ball inside to 7-foot-4 Zach Edey for easy dunks and Sasha Stefanovic hit three 3s to offset nine turnovers.
When Holloway talked about his players as New York and New Jersey tough, he should have thrown Philly into the mix. Rupert grew up in Philly and heard the loudest ovation of all the Peacocks during lineup introductions. He scored all of his points in the first half and kept the Peacocks within four at the break.
"I feel like there's no pressure," Edert said.
MOTHER AND CHILD REUNION
Notre Dame coach Niele Ivey traveled from Connecticut after her team practiced Friday to watch her son Jaden play in his first Sweet 16. She had a car waiting for her after the Irish's practice to make the 2 1/2-hour trip. Notre Dame faces North Carolina State in the women's Sweet 16 on Saturday morning.
UP NEXT
The No. 8 seed Tar Heels will seek to end the Peacocks' unforgettable March.
Philadelphia's Wells Fargo Center explodes with Peacock Pride
Friday night was a thrill for not only the Saint Peter's men's basketball team, but also for their fans, especially those who made the trip down the turnpike from Jersey City to Philadelphia.
CBS2's Steve Overmyer was there with them in the stands as the most improbable team pulled off another impossible win.
"We got something to prove, man. Jersey City, New Jersey, we got good basketball players. We got players from Jersey City, New Jersey, New York. We're not scared of nobody. We're going to the Final Four and about to win the championship," one fan said.
"What message do you think that this sends to the rest of the field?" Overmyer asked another fan.
"Honestly, like, don't play with us. You know what I'm saying? We're from Jersey. We really do this. People been counting us out all year. We're the underdogs, and we're gonna keep on going," he said.
Saint Peter's accomplished something that's never been done before in history.
"That's just to prove to you that no matter what you do during the regular season, when it comes to the end of the season, making the playoffs, you can do anything you wish for," a fan said.
The student section was on their feet the entire game, even when they were trailing, they never lost hope.
"It's our Cinderella story for not only our boys, but our students as well," one fan said.
The Peacocks men's basketball team from 1968, who upset Due in the NIT, was in the stands to witness history together.
"We owe a lot to this team because we were saying, we would not have had this day in the sun if it wasn't for these guys, right? So if they weren't here doing this, we wouldn't be here watching them and we wouldn't have had our kind of reunion," said Pat Finnegan, a member of the 1968 team.
On the biggest stage, the smallest school displayed their true colors in full bloom.
"Thank you, boys. You finally did it. You put us on the map," one fan said.
Jersey City celebrates Peacocks' Sweet 16 victory
JERSEY CITY, N.J. -- Fans in Jersey City cheered the Peacocks as they fought to the very end Friday night.
Fans headed to McGinley Square Pub to watch the Sweet 16 game, then stuck around to celebrate the big win.
It may not have been Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, but it was a close second in Jersey City.
"It's cool to see us on the national stage," one fan told CBS2's Cory James.
Saint Peter's University Peacocks fans cheered for the men's basketball team as they took on the Purdue Boilermakers.
Kendra Williams plays on the Peacocks women's basketball team, and the watch party was the only place she wanted to be Friday night.
"I'm, like, cheering, I'm, like, coaching when I'm watching the game. I'm so excited, so I'm definitely, I'm in it all the way. All the way," she said.
Among those at the watch party were students, staff, even firefighters who showed up for a brief visit in their uniforms. It was a stop alumni also made to support the team.
"I actually know some of these guys personally. I was an RA here on campus and a lot of these guys lived in my building," Upper West Side resident Patrick Cucurollo said.
While the third round of March Madness brought a lot of food, fun and excitement to Run Baby Run Arena, it also brought a lot of stress. A nail biter end had fans sitting on the edge of their seats, holding their breath as the Peacocks went neck-to-neck with the Boilermakers.
What felt like hours wrapped up in minutes, a win for a school that is finally getting its Cinderella story.
"Where we come from, that's humble beginnings right there, so when we make it here, man, the whole world gonna know our name," fan Matthew Jeremiah said.
"I feel so great," fan Emilee Jane said through tears. "I've been going to these games ever since I was a little girl, and just to see us make it so far, I'm so emotional."
In addition to celebrations in bars, drivers were honking horns in the streets, and a fire truck even blasted its sirens while driving past the university in support of the Peacocks.
Peacocks fans react to win
CBS2's Steve Overmyer captured the moments Peacocks fans witnessed their team make history, becoming the first 15 seed to advance to the Elite Eight.
Even New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy made the trip to Philadelphia to attend the game, tweeting, "Love this team!"
Saint Peter's wins
Saint Peter's beat Purdue 67-64 to become the first 15-seed to advance to the Elite 8.
Saint Peter's fans fired up at Jersey City watch party
Minutes to go...
The score is Saint Peter's 55, Purdue 56 with 3:42 left in the game.
Peacock Pride
The Saint Peter's men's basketball team's Cinderella story has earned them fans from all over. CBS2's Steve Overmyer reports it wasn't just Saint Peter's University students cheering on the Peacocks in Philadelphia.
Halftime
At halftime, the Saint Peter's Peacocks are trailing the Purdue Boilermakers 33-29.
Peacocks up in the first half
The Saint Peter's Peacocks are up 21-19 with 7:34 left in the first half.
Busloads of fans make the trip south to support their team
Warming up...
Time to warm up before the big game!
A look behind the curtain
Otis Livingston and crew are in the Wells Fargo Center ahead of this evening's excitement.
Fans are filing in at the Wells Fargo Center
Saint Peter's fans have landed in Philadelphia to cheer on the Peacocks!
Watch party set for Saint Peter's University
In Jersey City, the community is cheering the Peacocks' Cinderella run.
A pep rally is set to begin soon at Saint Peter's University.
The watch party is similar to the one over the weekend, where family members, fans and people from all over the community came out to support the Peacocks. But folks coming out know the energy tonight will be even more intense as the players take on Purdue in the Sweet 17.
The doors to the Run Baby Arena open at 6 p.m., and the game starts at 7 p.m.
Everybody loves an underdog
The entire nation has shown plenty of love for the Cinderella Saint Peter's squad.
Everybody loves the underdog, and the Peacocks will continue to embrace that role.
"Being the underdog and being doubted is what we thrive off, and we're just trying to keep that mindset and keep doing what we're doing," said senior forward KC Ndefo.
Speaking of brotherly love, there is plenty of that on this team - literally. Two players that will be responsible for guarding the huge Purdue squad are twin brothers Fousseyni and Hassan Drame. They originate from the West African country of Mali, but played high school ball in Long Island, and now wind up on the biggest basketball stage of all.
"This is the thing that I will live with forever. Wherever I go people will be pointing, 'Those are the people that brought Saint Peter's on the map.' We're not bragging. We saw it coming," said Hassan Drame.
"This is everything I wanted - play with my brother, making history," Fousseyni Drame said. "Me and my brother always ask out teammates - one question we ask is 'Why not us?'"
Inspiration has turned into profit for the small Jesuit university. This two game run in the tourney has generated an estimated $71 million in publicity for the school, and the players have cashed in as well. Guard Doug Edert even signed an endorsement deal with Buffalo Wild Wings.
So has all this newfound fame gone to their heads? Not so fast, says the coach. To keep them focused, Shaheen Holloway limited their media exposure this week, allowing them to focus on the job in front of them.
So now that they're not catching anybody by surprise, do they feel any extra pressure?
"We don't feel pressure. We're just here to play basketball, something we've been doing our whole career. Even though it's a bigger stage, at the end of the day, it's just basketball," said junior guard Matthew Lee.
"There's no pressure, honestly. There's no pressure at all. There's nothing to be scared of," Edert said.
Hitting the road to show support
Showing Peacock Pride in Times Square
At the Crossroads of the World, there's love for the Saint Peter's Peacocks.
Peacock pride flying high
Saint Peter's support is in full effect outside of Wells Fargo Center.
Boilermakers fan sounds off
It doesn't matter if it's a David vs. Goliath situation - one Boilermakers fan is root, root, rooting for her team. Here's what she told Otis Livingston.
History in the re-making?
Steve Overmyer makes note that some former Saint Peter's upset winners are on their way to cheer on the current team... .
CBS2's sports department knows a good first stop when they see it
Before covering the big game, it's important to fuel up! CBS2's executive producer Chris Scaglione made a pit stop once he landed in Philadelphia.
Just a few hours left to go...
#StrutUp
Did you know: Today is National Peacock Day?
The school pointed out the coincidence on Twitter, saying it "checks out."
Saint Peter's watch party
The university says it will host a watch party on campus tonight at the Run Baby Run Arena.
The event is open to students, faculty, staff and alumni.
The school says there will be food, giveaways and more.
CLICK HERE to register
Saint Peter's Peacocks capture the nation's imagination
The madness is in the air as the Saint Peter's Peacocks are poised to head into Friday night's Sweet 16 matchup against Purdue.
As CBS2's Otis Livingston reports, it usually happens this time of year: A relatively unknown small school steals the spotlight from the blue bloods. and has a nation cheering for them to keep winning. Saint Peter's is this year's mid-major school pulling off major wins, and everyone wants to know about the Peacocks.
As one student said this week, this is bigger than Saint Peter's. It's about New Jersey. He said most people think it's a state you drive through to get where you're going.
Not this time. The small campus in Jersey City is pretty much the center of the college basketball universe.
"I think you run a tight team, a small team, a small school like ours, you know, the whole state can rally around us. Now it's becoming a national thing," said coach Shaheen Holloway.
This has been a profitable run for the Jesuit university. This two game run in the tourney has generated an estimated $71 million in publicity for the school. And now the party travels down the Turnpike, to the Wells Fargo Center where they will take on another Goliath in Purdue.
The Boilermakers were ranked #1 in the nation earlier in the season, and they have a significant size advantage over the Peacocks, with one player as tall as 7'4". The average Saint Peter's player is 6'4".
But the Peacocks have played bigger this entire time, and they certainly won't change now.
"You've got to see it one way: It's five versus five. They don't have two heads. They don't have four legs. They've got two legs. So we always make sure, whenever we step in the court, no-one dominates us," said junior forward Hassan Drame.
This has not been an easy road for the Peacocks. They started the season at three and six, and they missed a full month of the season thanks to COVID issues. Holloway actually said that pause helped save their season.
"We ain't played in 28 days? Something like that? So the guys, like, tried to have like ... a mini-camp, to get ready and get back and since the COVID pause it has been a different team," Holloway said.
Game time is 7 p.m. right here on CBS2, when we'll find out if Saint Peter's becomes the first 15 seed to advance to the elite eight.
Jets wish them well
Red Bulls rooting them on
Excitement in the air in Philadelphia
CBS2's Elijah Westbrook is live in Philadelphia this morning as the excitement buildings for the big game.
Saint Peter's win more than a week ago took many by surprise, including die-hard fans.
Students, faculty and fans rooted them on Wednesday, as they headed down to Philly.
Peacocks soccer player Dam Blackmore said he's proud to see that level of success for his fellow athletes.
"It's what we all want to achieve, so for them to do it, it is amazing, and I wish them all the luck," he said.
Luck may be on their side, but these young men know it's going to take much more than relying on that.
"The job's not finished. Dang, this is amazing, like we've really got a chance to go to the Final Four, like a dream come true. But at the end of the day, we've just got to take it one game at a time," player Marty Silvera said.
"We've been working hard. We believe in our work. We're not finished," player Daryl Banks added. "We want you all to keep supporting us."
"Why not us?" player Fousseyni Drame asked.
"Now, the goal is to prepare to win the game on Friday night," said coach Shaheen Holloway.
Coach Holloway said he's proud of his team, but added they must remain focused.
"Purdue is a great team, very well coached, great players. It's hard, you've got to pick and choose your poison. They've got two very good big guys down low, they've got great guards," he said. "You've just got to do what you do, kind of make some adjustments, some tweaks, without trying to give up too much. Just go out there and play basketball, just do what we've been doing the whole year. We're going to have a good scouting report in place for them."
Jersey City's newest celebrities are preparing to make history.
"It's just the greatest time ever," one fan said.
As Westbrook reported, there is an incredible sense of comradery among the team, the fans and Jersey City itself.
Eli fan-ning
The Peacocks have some star support in their corner. Eli Manning tweeted that he's been a fan for years.
"They are my local New Jersey basketball team. Go Peacocks!!"
"We're just trying to make history"
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