Albany, N.Y. (January 30, 2006)- Despite being reduced to eight players in uniform due to academic suspensions and injuries, Manhattan posted a 63-58 win over Siena tonight at the Pepsi Arena. The win, coupled with Iona's loss to Saint Peter's, vaults the Jaspers into a tie for first in the MAAC, as Manhattan improves to 13-6 overall, and 9-2 in MAAC play. The Saints fall to 9-10, 4-7 in MAAC play.
Siena scored the first two points of the game before the Jaspers used an extended run of 26-11 to open up a 13 point advantage with 6:48 left before the break. Freshman
Devon Austin, who was named MAAC Co-Rookie of the Week earlier in the day, poured in 12 points during the run. Manhattan maintained a double-digit lead the rest of the half, going into the break with a 10 point, 32-22, advantage.
The Jaspers were able to extend the lead to a game-high 15, 41-26, on a
Jason Wingate three pointer with 16:11 left in the game, before the Saints began to whittle away at the lead. With the Jaspers up 14, 45-31, following an Austin three ball with 14:08 remaining, Manhattan went cold from the field, allowing Siena to go on a 10-0 run to cut the lead to just four 45-41, with 8:31 left in the game. The Saints extended the run to 16-1 to pull within a point, 47-46, with 6:09 to play, but Austin again stepped to the fore, burying another three to put the Jaspers back up by four. Austin's three began an 8-2 Manhattan run to push the lead back to eight, 56-48, with 2:23 left. Siena was able to pull within two, 58-56, with 1:00 left, but the Jaspers were able to execute and make their free throws down the stretch to emerge with the hard fought victory.
Austin paced the Jaspers with a career-high 20 points, adding six rebounds and two blocks.
Jeff Xavier added 13 points, a career-high nine rebounds and four steals, while Wingate added 12 points and a game-high six helpers.
Arturo Dubois tallied his seventh double-double of the season with 10 points and 11 rebounds, adding five blocks.
Kojo Mensah led Siena with 21 points.
Manhattan, fresh off a 2-1 road trip, returns to the friendly confines of Draddy Gym for two MAAC games this weekend, hosting Niagara on Friday, February 3 at 7:00 p.m. before taking on Loyola on Sunday, February 5 at 12:00 p.m. in a game that will be televised on ESPNU.
