Box Score
RIVERDALE, N.Y. ? Junior point guard Patrick Bouli drained his third 3-pointer of the contest with 50 seconds remaining to help Manhattan (15-11, 9-7 MAAC) to a 73-68 victory over Rider (14-11, 9-6 MAAC) on Senior Day at Draddy Gymnasium. Teammates Darryl Crawford scored a game-high 26 points, while Chris Smith recorded the third double-double (12 points, 11 rebounds) of his career. Prior to the contest, the Manhattan College Athletic Department honored seniors Devon Austin and Herve Banogle.
“Feel really fortunate that we were able to send our seniors out with a win in our final game at Draddy Gymnasium this season,” explained third year head coach Barry Rohrssen. “It was an important game for us. Looking at the standings, (Rider) had nine wins and we wanted to get there ourselves.”
Manhattan recorded the final 10 points of the contest and held the Broncs scoreless over the last three minutes. With 1:38 remaining, Crawford accepted a kick out pass from Smith and buried an equalizing 3-pointer in front of the Jaspers' bench tying (68-68) the game for the 12th time. The next time down Crawford drove the lane and found Bouli open beyond the 3-point arc. With plenty of time, Bouli sank the decisive bucket.
Bouli was 3-for-3 from downtown and finished with a season-high nine points.
The Jaspers carried a 35-29 advantage into the break after scoring the last six points before the half. Crawford scored 14 of his points in the first stanza. He finished the game shooting 7-for-14 from the field, 3-for-3 from 3-point territory and 9-for-11 from the free-throw line.
Manhattan scored five of the first seven points of the second half and earned a nine point advantage courtesy of an 11-2 run which was built over a five minute span between the two halves. Bouli gave the Jaspers their largest lead (40-31) of the contest when he sank a 3-poitner at the 17:15 mark.
The Broncs erased the deficit and with 10:06 left in regulation Harris Mansell knocked down his only trey of the contest to give Rider a 54-51 edge, its first lead since 3:56 in the first half. Manhattan held Mansell to just three points on 1-for-7 shooting.
Smith kept the Jaspers in the game with three consecutive baskets within a one minute span, which was capped with a lay-up at 6:39. Smith's bucket gave Manhattan a 61-58 lead.
The Broncs responded with a 10-2 run and held a 68-63 lead with three minutes left on a Ryan Thompson jumper. Rider's five point advantage was its largest of the game.
Thompson scored 16 points and grabbed seven boards. Mike Ringgold and Justin Robinson led Rider with 18 points apiece.
Manhattan's defensive intensity increased over the last three minutes. The Jaspers forced Rider into a shooting slump going 0-for-8 during this final time frame.
Jaspers' sophomore center Laurence Jolicoeur scored 11 points coming off the bench. It marked the fifth consecutive game he has posted double-figures. Jolicoeur was 5-for-7 from the field.
As a team, Manhattan was an efficient 47.2% (25-53) from the field and 54.5% (6-11) from beyond the arc. Andrew Gabriel added eight points and four rebounds to the winning effort.
The victory marks the Jaspers' ninth in the MAAC which ties Rider for the third most. Manhattan is still a half game behind the Broncs in the overall standings.
Manhattan returns to the hardwood on Saturday at William & Mary. Tip off is scheduled for 2 p.m.
