GAME NOTES: The Canisius Golden Griffins are set to open their Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference schedule against the Saint Peter's Peacocks on Wednesday night at the Yanitelli Center.

Canisius has lost three straight after a 2-0 start. The Golden Griffins took part in the Big 4 Basketball Classic in Buffalo last Saturday and came away with a 72-57 setback to the Bulls. This contest is the first of three straight road games for the Griffs, who will go more than a month between home games until they return to the Koessler Athletic Center on Dec. 18.

Saint Peter's is coming off last Saturday's 60-58 setback to Tennessee State in the Barclays Classic. The Peacocks rallied to score 10 of the final 14 points in the last 56 seconds of regulation but could not get a potential game-tying shot at the buzzer to fall. This marks the final leg of the team's three-game homestand.

Canisius has won the last four meetings with Saint Peter's and leads the all- time series, 37-31.

A slow start cost the Golden Griffins against Buffalo, as they fell behind 16-6 early and then watched the Bulls close out the first half with a 9-0 run to take a 34-19 lead into the break. Canisius, which made only 8-of-33 attempts from the field (.242) in the opening 20 minutes, was never able to recover. Zach Lewis led the way with 14 points and six rebounds in the loss, but Phil Valenti was the only other teammate to join him in double figures, finishing with 11 points and three steals. Through five games, Lewis is averaging a team-best 13.6 ppg but is shooting just 30.7 percent from the floor. Canisius averages only 59.4 ppg.

Saint Peter's is putting up a mere 58.4 ppg through seven contests, though the Peacocks have also limited the opposition to 58.4 ppg. Dominique Marvin is tallying 15.9 points and 9.3 rebounds per contest, but he has not gotten a whole lot of help from his supporting cast. The Peacocks went on an improbable 10-4 run in the final minute and change against Norfolk State, however Tyler Gaskins saw his final attempt bounce off the back of the rim as the Spartans held on for the win. It was a tough loss for an SPC squad that led for most of the game and went 12-of-22 from beyond the arc. Marvin had 17 points, while Gaskins and Hester Travis each scored 12. That trio combined to knock down 10- of-15 3-point tries.

Points will likely be at a premium in this contest, given the struggles of both teams at the offensive end of the floor. Saint Peter's needs to take care of business at home, and a reeling Canisius team may be just what the doctor ordered.