John Dunne has turned a cellar-dweller into a middle-of-the-pack team.

Previewing tomorrow's game at the Zoo, which features three of the five teams in the MAAC's five-way tie for third place:

SCOUTING SAINT PETER’S: The Peacocks, improved but not yet consistent, are coming off one of their biggest MAAC wins of the past several years, a 90-86 double-overtime triumph over Niagara Monday night in which Nick Leon scored a career-high 29 points and Wesley Jenkins scored 27. Jenkins and Leon, both junior guards, have been the centerpiece of coach John Dunne’s rebuilding effort since arriving at freshmen. Jenkins, averaging a team-high 14.1 points, missed the Peacocks’ Dec. 31 game at Siena after sustaining minor injuries in a car accident. He scored only 17 points in his first two games since returning to the lineup, but broke out Monday. Leon (13.2 points) provided the Peacocks’ biggest answer Monday to Tyrone Lewis’ 27 points. … Ryan Bacon, a 6-7 junior forward who nearly lead the Peacocks past Rider in last year’s MAAC tournament quarterfinal, is averaging 9.1 points and a team-high 8.1 rebounds. He had career bests of 16 rebounds and seven assists against Niagara. … Freshman forward Darius Conley (7.4 points, 5.8 rebounds) is a MAAC all-Rookie candidate. … Another freshman starter, 6-4 guard Steven Samuels, is averaging 5.1 points.

SCOUTING RIDER: The Broncs are coming off their first real blowout win of the year, an 84-62 thumping of Marist Monday night in which they led by as many as 35. Part of the reason for Rider’s failure to meet expectations so far has been the less-than-dominant play of Ryan Thompson, but the preseason MAAC Player of the Year had one of his best games of the year Monday: 21 points on 8-for-15 shooting in just 24 minutes. … Novar Gadson (11.8 points, 8.1 rebounds) is questionable after missing Monday’s game with a high ankle sprain. … Justin Robinson (12.7 points, 43 percent 3-point shooting) had a season-high six assists Monday. … Mike Ringgold (11.2 points, 7.4 rebounds) has had six rebounds or more in five straight games. … Jhamar Youngblood (7.6 points) scored a career-high 17 points Monday off the bench. … Jon Thompson (2.7 points) made his first career start Monday in Gadson’s place and finished with three points and a team-high-tying three steals in 17 minutes. … Jermaine Jackson (1.3 points) started up front Monday in place of Brandon Penn (4.4).