Riverdale, N.Y. (March 14, 2006)- In just the second postseason game in Draddy Gym history, Manhattan defeated 2005-06 Northeast Conference Regular Season Champion Fairleigh Dickinson, 80-77, in an Opening Round Game of the NIT.
Jeff Xavier led all scorers with 22 points as the Jaspers improve to 19-10. The Knights end their season with a 20-12 record.
Manhattan came out firing on all cylinders, building a 12 point lead (the largest lead of the game by either team), 19-7, 6:01 into the game. FDU showed its resiliency though, using an extended 24-11 to take a one point lead, 31-30, with 6:25 left before the break. The Jaspers quickly built the lead back to five, and led, 45-40, before FDU ran off five straight points to send the teams into the break knotted at 45-45.
In the early going of the second half, Manhattan again asserted itself, scoring the first seven points to open up a seven point, 52-45, lead. But FDU showed why they earned the NEC Regular Season Title, going on another extended run, this time 19-8, to take the Knights' largest lead of the game, four points, on a conventional three point play by Cameron Tyler with 8:40 left in the game.
The Jaspers scored the next four points to tie the score at 64-64. FDU was able to tie the score on three occasions before taking a one point lead, 77-76, on a three pointer by Michael Peeples with 1:24 left. At that point, Manhattan senior point guard and co-captain
Jason Wingate did what he does best, making a clutch jumper to put the Jaspers back in front, then, after an
Arturo Dubois steal, calmly sank to free throws to provide the final margin. FDU had two chances to tie the score in the waning seconds, but both shots came up short.
Joining Xavier in double figures were Dubois (17 points, game-high 11 boards), Wingate (15 points, six assists, no turnovers), and
Devon Austin (13 points).
Gordon Klaiber paced FDU with 21 points and eight rebounds.
The win was Manhattan's first in the NIT since the team won two games in the 1992 NIT, defeating Wisconsin Green Bay at home and Rutgers on the road before falling to Notre Dame in the Quarterfinals.
Manhattan will next play on Saturday, March 18, traveling to College Park, Md. to take on #1 seeded Maryland at 11:00 a.m. in a game that will be televised nationally on ESPN.
