The scene in Jersey City was one of jubilation on Friday night, as the watch party inside Run Baby Run Arena celebrated another improbably victory for the Saint Peter’s Peacocks.
The mid-major school and MAAC champions became the first 15th seed to ever reach the Elite Eight, and the crowd 90 miles away on campus went wild, celebrating arguably the greatest Cinderella story in March Madness history.
“Jersey City has been unbelievable for us,” Peacocks head coach Shaheen Holloway said. “I want to give a shout out to the student-athletes and the whole student body. They’ve been taking own here, they’re doing videos, they’re doing watch parties, it’s been tremendous. I’m just happy for the school, the community, and everyone involved. It’s been great.”
The watch party back home in Jersey City was a wild one, especially after the final horn sounded and it was the Peacocks celebrating amongst a stunned Purdue group, another college basketball titan taken down by a basketball program whose most historic season before this run was back in 1968, when the Peacocks reached the NIT semifinals after stunning Duke.
Those Peacocks, under the mantra “Run Baby Run,” were the inspiration behind the current arena’s name, where students packed the stands on Friday night to witness the greatest victory in program history, and Holloway is feeling the love.
“My phone, I had to turn it off. I can’t get you tickets,” Holloways laughed. “But I tell you what, I can’t believe the support we’ve had. This is unbelievable.”
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