Box Score
NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. - Rico Pickett scored eight of the Jaspers final 12 points in the last three minutes to help secure a 66-60 victory over second place Iona (18-8, 10-5) in MAAC action Friday in New Rochelle. Pickett finished with a game-high 24 points and senior guard Darryl Crawford added 14 as Manhattan (9-16, 4-11) snapped the Gaels' seven game win streak at the Hynes Athletic Center.
Manhattan was clicking on all cylinders in the first half as the Jaspers shot 60% (15-25) from the field, while their pesky defense limited Iona to just 21 points on 28% (7-25) shooting. Pickett led three Jaspers in double-figures by the break with 12 points. Freshman swingman Mohamed Koita scored a career-high 10 points on 4-for-5 shooting, while Crawford matched his first half performance.
Pickett initiated the scoring surge which became contagious after he recorded nine straight points on four consecutive jumpers over a two minute span. The junior from Alabama capped the rush with his first 3-pointer of the ball game at 15:36 to give Manhattan a 12-5 advantage.
Koita got going soon after with a one-handed tomahawk jam off a steal at midcourt, and then at 12:53 he gave Manhattan a double-digit lead (21-11) burying his second trey. Koita and Pickett combined for 17 of the first 21 points.
Crawford carried the Jaspers' scoring torch for the final 11 minutes of the first half posting seven points over the span. Senior guard Antoine Pearson closed out Manhattan's highest scoring first half of the season with a 3-point play nine seconds before the break to send the Jaspers into the locker room with a 40-21 advantage. The 19 point halftime deficit was Iona's largest of the season.
Manhattan got off to a sluggish start in the second stanza allowing Iona to roll out 11 unanswered points. Gaels' forward Keon Williams posted the first three buckets, and then a 3-pointer by freshman Ben Mockford and a layup by sophomore point guard Scott Machado cut the deficit to 40-32 with 14:10 left.
Pickett responded sparking a 7-0 run with a pair of jumpers to build the lead back to 13, which proved to be enough of a cushion. The MAAC's scoring leader shot 8-for-17 and 6-for-9 from the free-throw line in his 16th time leading the Jaspers in scoring this season.
The resilient Gaels' poured in seven 3-pointers in the second half sparking a last full fledged charge down the stretch. With 22 seconds remaining, freshman Kyle Smyth knocked down his third 3-pointer of the half and fourth of the game to cut it to 62-59. Manhattan settled the comeback bid with a pair of free-throws from Laurence Jolicoeur and two more from Nick Walsh to seal the victory.
Brandon Adams led the Jaspers bench with six points, six rebounds and three assists. Pearson added five points and three steals.
Crawford finished 5-for-7 from the field anchoring Manhattan's hot shooting effort (50%, 21-42). The Jaspers were 58.3% (7-12) from downtown.
Manhattan returns to action on Monday when the Jaspers host Fairfield at Draddy Gymnasium. Tip off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
