Box Score
RIVERDALE, N.Y. - The Manhattan men's basketball team suffered a 71-58 loss to a strong Hofstra (6-4) team on Saturday at Draddy Gymnasium. Despite a game-high 22 point scoring effort from guard George Beamon, Manhattan (2-9) could not handle the Pride's hot 3-point shooting as Hofstra (6-4) won its fourth straight contest in as many years against the Jaspers. Hofstra shot 57.1% (12-21) from downtown and received a team-high 21 points from senior guard Charles Jenkins, who became the seventh player in program history to record his 2,000th career point.
Facing a 13-point halftime deficit, the Jaspers made a hard fought surge in the second half to battle back into the game, scoring 10 unanswered points and cutting Hofstra's lead to 53-50. Freshman point guard Michael Alvarado scored five of his eight points during the run and Beamon knocked down the lay-up to pull within three with 7:30 remaining.
Beamon set a career-high with his 22 points, shooting 8-for-14 from the field. It was his third 20-point performance of the year, and he added four rebounds to his stat line in 40 minutes of work.
The Pride responded to Manhattan's comeback bid with four straight 3-poitners to reopen their lead to double-figures. Jenkins knocked down Hofstra's first two 3s, and he scored 10 points during the Pride's ensuing 18-1 run to distance themselves from the Jaspers.
Jenkins shot 8-for-10 from the field, including 3-for-4 from 3-point territory. Hofstra junior guard Mike Moore posted a double-double (20 points, 10 rebounds) and also knocked down three 3-pointers. Senior guard Brad Kelleher added 14 points off the Pride's bench, shooting 4-for-6 from downtown.
Manhattan got solid production up front outscoring Hofstra 22-12 in the paint. Jasper forwards Demetrius Jemison and Rhamel Brown combined for 23 of the Jaspers' 36 rebounds. Jemison scored seven points and grabbed a career-high 13 rebounds, while Brown posted eight points and collected 10 rebounds for the fourth time this season.
Hofstra had no trouble finding the bottom of the net in the first half shooting 53.6% (15-28) from the field and 7-for-10 (70%) beyond the arc. Kelleher scored all of his 14 points in the opening stanza to help Hofstra carry a 42-29 advantage into the break.
Manhattan finished shooting 40.4% (19-47), but struggled from downtown hitting just 3-of-12 attempts. Hofstra also converted 18 Manhattan turnovers into 19 points.
The Jaspers look to regroup on Wednesday when Manhattan travels to Mid-American Conference member Bowling Green. Tip off with the Falcons is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Anderson Arena.
To follow Manhattan Athletics on Twitter, go to twitter.com/GoJaspers or visit Manhattan's Facebook fan page.
