LA PORTE, Ind. – Junior Mark Peters (Aurora, Ill./ Marmion Academy) and freshman Edvinas Presniakovas (Plainfield, Ill./ Plainfield South) scored 28 and 21 points, respectively, as University of St. Francis defeated host Purdue University North Central 87-77 in Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference men’s basketball action Wednesday night.

The win extended the Saints’ road winning streak to eight games and marked their fifth consecutive victory overall.

USF (17-8 overall, 13-6 CCAC) led by as many as 12 points in the first half before heading into the intermission with a 37-33 edge. The Saints remained in the lead until a Matt McLaughlin three-point basket put Purdue North Central on top 44-42 with 15:54 left in the game.

The Panthers held on to a small lead for most of the next 11 minutes until junior Andrew Lerg (DeWitt, Mich./ DeWitt) hit a three-pointer and made two free throws 16 seconds apart to turn a 69-68 deficit into a 73-69 Saints’ advantage with 3:30 to go. Lerg finished the night with 17 points.

Peters helped seal the win with a layup at the 2:28 mark and a three-point play with 1:51 left. His 28 points and Presniakovas’ 21 were both good for career highs. Peters grabbed a team-high nine rebounds, while senior Billy Hubly (Elk Grove, Ill./ Elk Grove) dished out seven assists.

McLaughlin paced Purdue North Central (6-19, 4-16 CCAC) with 18 points. Matt Demler, Nick Lafty and Alphonse Futch each chipped in 11.

USF returns home for the first time since Jan. 12 Saturday night to entertain Trinity International University. Tipoff at the Sullivan Center is set for 7 p.m.