Bridgeport, Conn. (January 27, 2006)- Adversity visited Manhattan College for the second straight game, but this time the Jaspers were able to overcome both adversity and the Fairfield Stags, posting a 74-69 win tonight at the Arena at Harbor Yard. Manhattan improved to 12-6, 8-2 in MAAC play with the win, while the Stags fall to 6-12, 3-6 in MAAC play.
The game see-sawed in the early going, as the teams traded the lead 10 times over the opening 12:30 of the game, until Fairfield took a five point lead, the largest by either team in the first half, a lead the Stags would carry into the break.
Fairfield scored the first four points of the second half to stretch the lead to nine, 43-34, before Manhattan ran off 14 straight points to take a seven point lead, 50-43, with 14:27 left in the game. The Jaspers stretched the run to 28-5 to take their largest lead of the game, posting a 14 point advantage, 62-48, with 8:57 left in the game. Fairfield would not wilt under the pressure, though, running off the next 11 points to pull within one, 62-61, with 4:15 remaining in the second stanza. However, Manhattan would not relinquish the lead, and although the Stags would cut the lead to a single point on four more occasions, clutch plays from
Jason Wingate would carry the Jaspers home, as the senior co-captain would score 10 of Manhattan's final 12 points, including a perfect six-of-six from the line over the final 42 seconds.
Wingate paced the Jaspers with 23 points, including 12-14 from the line, adding four assists.
Devon Austin tallied a career-high 15 points, all on three pointers, while pulling down six boards and blocking three shots.
Arturo Dubois was again a force in the paint, tallying a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds, while also swatting three shots.
Terrence Todd led the Stags with 23 points, while Herbie Allen added 20 points.
Manhattan returns to action on Monday, January 30, traveling to Albany, N.Y. to take on the Siena Saints at the Pepsi Arena. Tipoff is slated for 7:00 p.m.
