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EASTON, Pa. - Junior co-captain Nick Lindner continued his breakthrough start to the 2015-16 season on Sunday afternoon inside Kirby Sports Center, scoring the team's final eight points in overtime to come back and defeat Saint Peter's (1-1) in the Leopards' home opener, 87-86.

"It was a nightmare of a game for the first two halves, struggling from the field and making bad decisions all around," Lindner said. "My teammates and coaches kept confidence in me the whole time. I'm lucky to have made some plays down the stretch."

Lindner finished with 22 points on 9-of-24 shooting from the field, going 2-for-6 from three-point range and 2-of-3 from the charity stripe. Senior co-captain Bryce Scott righted the ship after a 1-for-7 performance on Friday by dropping in 18 points on 7-of-12 from the field, while Monty Boykins posted a career-high 16 points to go along with two rebounds, two assists and a steal for a historic day.

"My success was really a product of a good offense," Boykins added. "I was able to get open shots with Nick drawing defenders and kicking for open threes or being able to get ball reversals and attack close-outs to get to the foul line."

Sophomore Matt Klinewski rounded out the double-figure scorers with 12 points and five rebounds on the afternoon, all but one rebound coming in the second half and overtime. Lafayette (1-1) shot it well from the field, hitting on 29-of-64 shots (45.3%) and 11-of-22 from outside (50.0%). Saint Peter's won the battle on the glass, 50-31, but the Leopards were able to score 21 points off 15 Peacock turnovers.

The game opened frenetically on both ends of the court as a pair of free-throws out of the first media timeout from Lindner put the Maroon and White on top, 8-7. A deep three from the junior followed by a steal and run-out took the game under the 13-minute mark with the home side in front, 13-10.

The Lafayette offense came to life midway through the opening half as back-to-back triples from Scott and Boykins opened up a 10-point edge at 24-14. A couple minutes later, Scott and freshman Tyler Barlow worked a beautiful pick-and-roll, forcing a Peacocks timeout at the 8:08 mark with the Leopards holding their largest lead to that point, 29-15.

With 5:47 to play in the half, Saint Peter's' Elisha Boone went up for a dunk attempt off an offensive board. Barlow met him at the ball, though, rejected the effort and forced another empty possession from the visitors. A step-back jumper from Lindner fell on the ensuing trip and Lafayette extended its edge to its largest, 17, 35-18.

Saint Peter's responded over the next three minutes as a 9-3 run brought them within 11 at 38-27. Free throws from Rodney Hawkins and Quadir Welton got the Peacocks within single digits at 38-30 with just over a minute left and that run continued as the game went into the break with Lafayette in front, 39-34.

Saint Peter's came out in the second and cut the edge to four, but a triple on the right wing from freshman Paulius Zalys gave Lafayette a seven-point cushion. Another from the rookie in the right corner upped it to eight, 50-42, with 15:24 left, forcing a Peacocks timeout.

Another response from the visitors made it a one-possession game at 50-47 with 12:30 to play and that score line held through the media timeout. Both sides traded triples as the game moved under the 10-minute mark with Lafayette clinging to a 57-55 advantage.

A pair of free throws from senior Ben Freeland after a couple solid defensive possessions made the edge six again at the 6:43 mark, 61-55. That small margin remained over the next two-minute stretch as Lafayette took a 63-59 lead into a timeout at the 4:32 mark.

A transition bucket from Antwon Portley at the three-minute mark cut it to two again, but a clutch three from Scott on the other end pushed it back to five, 68-63. Hawkins responded with a three of his own and a Trevis Wyche lay-up at the 1:59 mark tied the game at 68.

A pair of foul shots from Klinewski put the Leopards in front, 70-68 at the 1:30 mark and a jumper from Portley tied it up again at 70 with 1:19 to play. A strong drive from Wyche gave the Peacocks the two-point edge with 34 seconds left, but a pair of free throws from Klinewski tied it up again and a strong defensive possession sent the game to an extra session.

The overtime period began all Saint Peter's as it scored 11 of the first 13 points to take an 83-74 edge with 1:56 to play. Five back from Lafayette on a triple from Lindner and two free throws from Rufer brought the Leopards back within four at 83-79 with 1:30 left.

Out of a timeout, Scott hustled for a steal in the right corner and the ball found its way to Lindner at the top of the key, who drained the three to make it a two-point game, 83-81. A finish through a foul on the other end, however, put the Peacocks up five, 86-81 with 1:03 on the clock and chances looking slim.

Then, Lindner took over as a pair of strong driving layups on either side of two steals put the Leopards in front, 87-86 with 12 seconds left. A missed layup and a steal from senior Zach Rufer ended it with a final score of 87-86.

Next up for the Maroon and White is a trip to Newark, N.J. on Saturday to battle with NJIT at 4 p.m.