NEWARK, Del. (Interstat) — A dominant first-half offensive display by Delaware proved too much for a resilient Saint Peter’s squad to overcome as the Blue Hens secured their first victory of the season, 81-70, in a non-conference men’s basketball game Tuesday night at the Bob Carpenter Center.

Playing before a crowd of 1,600, Delaware erupted for 49 points in the opening period, connecting on a blistering 11 of 21 attempts from beyond the three-point arc to build a commanding 23-point halftime lead. The Blue Hens’ offensive efficiency was staggering, posting an offensive rating of 118.2 by scoring 81 points over 68 possessions.

Saint Peter’s mounted a furious second-half comeback, outscoring Delaware 44-32 over the final 20 minutes, but the early deficit was insurmountable. The Peacocks chipped away, cutting the lead to single digits late in the game, but could never fully close the gap.

The game was decided by shooting efficiency. Delaware finished the night shooting 53.8 percent from the floor, compared to Saint Peter’s 41.3 percent. While the Peacocks were effective from long range, making 12 three-pointers, they required 32 attempts to do so. Delaware also capitalized at the free-throw line, making 14 of 20 attempts, while Saint Peter’s was a perfect 6 for 6.

Justyn Fernandez led all scorers for Delaware, pouring in 18 points and dishing out five assists. He was one of three Blue Hens to score 17 or more points, joined by Macon Emory and Tyler Houser, who each tallied 17. Emory added three assists and two blocks in a strong all-around performance, while Houser’s presence was felt inside. Christian Bliss orchestrated the offense effectively, contributing 15 points and five assists.

Saint Peter’s was led by Brent Bland, who scored a team-high 21 points, fueled by a strong second-half shooting performance. TJ Robinson facilitated the Peacocks’ offense, handing out eight assists to go with 11 points. Bryce Eaton added 13 points off the bench.

Defensively, Saint Peter’s forced 13 Delaware turnovers, recording nine steals, but was unable to consistently stifle the Blue Hens’ multifaceted attack. Delaware held a slight edge in rebounding and blocked three shots.

The victory improves both teams’ records to 1-3 on the young season. Saint Peter’s will look to return to the win column when they host Massachusetts-Lowell on Saturday. Delaware heads to Jacksonville, Florida, for its next contest, facing Southern Illinois on Monday.