There was a certain symmetry Monday night for Alec Peters.
The senior standout grabbed his career-high 16th rebound with 4:45 left in Valparaiso’s 80-56 Horizon League win over Green Bay at the Athletics-Recreation Center.
That rebound also gave Peters the Crusaders’ career record of 911, passing Chris Ensminger’s previous mark that had stood since 1996.
Peters typically downplays individual achievements. But even he seemed moved by the record in a game the Crusaders (15-4, 5-1) moved into a first-place tie with the Phoenix (11-7, 5-1).
“It’s cool,” he said. “I could sit here and talk about how we have a lot more games to play, I’m not worried about it, I’m just glad we won. But the more and more it hits me, it’s my record now and I have a chance to make it mine for a long time.”
After securing the record-setting rebound, Peters received a standing ovation from the crowd. When he got fouled with 4:25 left, leaving the game with 20 points as the mark was announced, the applause continued and he received hugs from teammates and coaches.
Valparaiso coach Matt Lottich appreciated the moment.
“Any time you lead your collegiate program in any category, it’s amazing,” Lottich said. “To do it in rebounding is fantastic. I joked with him and all the guys, he was really hunting them at the end.
“But he always does. It’s an honor to have been here for every single one of his rebounds. He’s going to put a lot of distance in the record book.”
Indeed, Peters seemed to play with purpose. He prevented rebounds from going out of bounds and outfought teammates for them. He even half-joked he told freshman center Jaume Sorolla not to rebound with him if a Green Bay player missed a second free throw.
Tevonn Walker, who had 13 points and 10 rebounds despite being ill for the second straight game, wasn’t surprised by Peters’ aggressiveness.
“He got the record, but that’s what we see every day in practice,” Walker said. “It’s nothing new for us.”
It appeared Peters also would set Valparaiso’s career scoring record. He put up 10 points within seven minutes, including back-to-back 3-pointers, the second deeper than the first.
But Bryce Drew’s mark of 2,142 points will have to wait until Sunday against Illinois-Chicago. Peters needs seven to break it.
The Crusaders led 24-9 with 10:54 left in the first half when Micah Bradford finished through contact for a three-point play and added a 3-pointer. The freshman point guard, making his third straight start, finished with 11 points.
The Phoenix closed to 32-28 before Max Joseph hit a 3-pointer as time expired before halftime.
Valparaiso used a 17-0 run in four-plus minutes to lead 59-34 with 12:40 left. The Crusaders led by as many as 32 points.
The Crusaders had 17 assists with eight turnovers against Green Bay’s pressure, limiting the Phoenix to shooting 31 percent (22-for-71).
Green Bay shocked Valparaiso in overtime in last season’s conference tournament semifinals, and the Crusaders remembered.
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“I was pumped up for this game just based on what happened last March,” Peters said. “Then coming off a couple games where we were finally starting to play well again, everybody was pumped up to be back at home, against the team that was in first place.
“I had a little more energy, just chasing things down. That’s just how I like to play the game.”
Twitter @MichaelOsipoff