Box Score
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Manhattan came up with three big defensive stops in the final two minutes to hold off Brown (1-2) and earn a 54-52 victory in the NIT Season Tip Off consolation round at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, N.Y. Jaspers' freshman Emmy Andujar capped off his career-high 11 point performance with a clutch bucket and then the go-ahead free-throw with just over two minutes remaining to lift Manhattan (2-1) past the Bears.
"We did what we had to do today," explained Manhattan first year head coach Steve Masiello. "We are winning ugly right now, the offense is way behind, but our defense kept us in the game."
Jaspers' junior guard George Beamon anchored Manhattan's offensive effort delivering a season-high 18 points, which also marked the 18th consecutive contest dating back to last season that he posted double-digits in scoring. Beamon buried four 3-pointers, grabbed four rebounds and dished out three assists.
"We were kind of down after the Syracuse loss, but we bounced back today," said Beamon. "Coach (Masiello) gave us encouragement and we put it together and pulled out a big win. We needed this one."
The see-saw battle featured 10 lead changes and five ties as the contest came down to the last possession. Despite coming off a hard-fought effort against fifth-ranked Syracuse less than 24 hours before, Manhattan charged out of the gate rushing to an 8-0 advantage four minutes into the ballgame. Although, Brown's 3-pointers were falling in the first half at a 45.5% (5-11) rate as the Bears crawled back into the game to trail only 30-27 at intermission.
Manhattan captured its largest lead of the contest by the 16:08 mark in the second half, thanks to an 8-0 run featuring 3-pointers from Andujar and Beamon. Bears' sophomore reserve Dockery Walker carried Brown in the second half shooting a perfect 5-for-5 from the field to stay close. The 6'7" sophomore forward from Dover, Del. finished with a double-double posting 12 points and a game-high 10 rebounds.
The Jaspers swarming defense locked in on the Bears 3-point shooting in the second half limiting Brown to go just 1-for-8 (12.5%) beyond the arc. Manhattan's defense and fitness level was most evident in the final minute of play with the Jaspers maintaining a 53-52 advantage. Brown junior guard Stephen Albrecht had two opportunities from downtown in the last 60 seconds, but both were off the mark. With 10 seconds on the clock Beamon raced out to get a hand in Albrecht's face as his potential go-ahead 3-point attempt was off the mark sealing the Jaspers victory.
Senior guard Kidani Brutus scored nine points all on 3-pointers. He tied Andujar with six rebounds and had two assists over 32 minutes. Jaspers' senior forward Roberto Colonette gave Manhattan a productive 15 minutes of work in the second half tallying all seven points and game-high seven rebounds.
The Manhattan full court defensive pressure helped force Brown into 17 turnovers in the game. The Jaspers scored 17 points off turnovers and also recorded 17 second chance points.
Manhattan will play two more games as part of the 2011 NIT Season Tip Off with their next destination to be announced on Thursday after all regional championship rounds are completed. The third- and fourth- round games will be held Nov. 21 and 22 on the campuses of the three highest remaining seeds that do not advance to Madison Square Garden for the semifinals and finals.
