Poughkeepsie, N.Y. (January 7, 2008) ? Manhattan dropped its first of four consecutive road games to Marist College today. Laurence Jolicoeur led all Jaspers with 17 points going a perfect 9-9 from the free throw line.
With MAAC play getting into full swing, the Jaspers were looking to get a big win on the road at McCann Field House today. At the start of the first half, Manhattan came out to take a 7-4 lead going into the first media timeout with 15:56 left to play in the half. But the Red Foxes went on a run and before they knew it, the Jaspers were looking at a 12 point deficit, 31-19 with just over five minutes to go.
With 4:24 left in the first half, Jolicoeur hit a three point field goal, which sparked a Manhattan run. The Jaspers outscored Marist 15-6 in the final five minutes of the half. Manhattan's defense was stepping up as they held Marist to only three points in three minutes during that run. Freshman Rasheed Green helped spark the Jaspers streak as he hit a bucket and drew the foul with 3:47 left. Jolicoeur was on fire as he scored the last seven points of the half off of 7-7 shooting from the charity stripe. Manhattan cut their 12 point deficit to three as they went into the locker room, down 37-34. Jolicouer had 10 points in the half alongside Green's 12 points to give the Jaspers some momentum.
Coming out in the second half, Brandon Adams hit two free throws to bring the game within one, 37-36. The Red Foxes were not going to hand the game over as the hot shooting by Marists' Jay Gavin put Marist out in front, 61-50. The Jaspers would battle back and cut their deficit to seven, 68-61 off a pair of Devon Austin free throws. But that would be the closet Manhattan would get as Marist pulled away in the end to win by a final score of 76-66.
Jolicoeur finished the game with a season high 17 points while shooting 3-5 from the field and 2-3 from three point range. Green grabbed five boards to go alongside his 12 points, while also tallying a steal and a block. Manhattan as a team shot 85% from the free throw line while forcing 14 Marist turnovers on the defensive side.
The Jaspers will continue their road trip as they will go to Buffalo to take on Canisius College on Friday, January 11. Game time is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
