EMMITSBURG, Md. (Interstat) — In a gritty Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference clash defined by defense and decisive plays in the final minute, Mount Saint Mary’s rallied from a halftime deficit to edge Saint Peter’s 70-65 on Friday night at a raucous Knott Arena.

A crowd of 1,690 saw the Mountaineers, who trailed by two at the break, outscore the Peacocks 39-32 in the second half to secure a pivotal conference victory. The win improved Mount Saint Mary’s to 6-11 overall, while Saint Peter’s slipped to 7-6.

The game’s most critical sequence unfolded in the final 40 seconds with the Mountaineers clinging to a 64-62 lead. After a Saint Peter’s turnover, Mount Saint Mary’s worked the clock before finding senior forward Abdou Khadre Kébé, who was fouled on a drive to the basket. The 6-foot-7 native of Dakar, Senegal, calmly sank both free throws with 14 seconds remaining, pushing the lead to four.

Saint Peter’s leading scorer, TJ Robinson, answered quickly with a driving layup to cut the deficit back to 66-64 with just over a second left, but the Peacocks were forced to foul immediately. Mountaineers guard Xavier Lipscomb, who led all scorers with 18 points, iced the game by making both ensuing free throws, providing the final margin.

The contest was a defensive struggle from the outset. Saint Peter’s built its first-half lead behind the interior work of Zaakir Williamson and the scoring of Robinson, who finished with 18 points. The Peacocks led 33-31 at halftime, but the Mountaineers’ defensive pressure, which generated 12 steals, began to wear on the visitors as the second half progressed.

Mount Saint Mary’s opened the second period on a 12-4 run, fueled by Lipscomb’s playmaking and a physical inside presence. Kébé was instrumental throughout, contributing 13 points, two blocks, and multiple key defensive stops. His late free throws were the culmination of a strong all-around performance.

Trey Deveaux provided crucial support for the Mountaineers with 12 points, five rebounds, and relentless defensive energy, while Arlandus Keyes added 11 points. For Saint Peter’s, Robinson’s 18 points paced the team, with Williamson adding 12 points and two blocks. Brent Bland and Jahki Gupton each chipped in 12 and 11 points, respectively, but the Peacocks could not sustain their offensive flow against the Mountaineers’ second-half adjustments.

The victory was a significant one for Mount Saint Mary’s, which had been projected as a solid favorite by advanced metrics but needed to execute down the stretch to validate that expectation. The loss snapped a two-game winning streak for Saint Peter’s in MAAC play.

Both teams return to conference action on Sunday. Mount Saint Mary’s will host Siena, while Saint Peter’s returns home to face Merrimack. The two teams are scheduled to meet again in Jersey City, New Jersey, on Jan. 30.