Box Score
FORT COLLINS, COLO. - The Manhattan men's basketball team left it all on the court on Tuesday at Colorado State (4-2) in a Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip Off consolation round contest. The Jaspers battled all the way back from a 15 point halftime deficit to force overtime, but Manhattan (3-2) came up short falling 91-86 to the Rams at Moby Arena in Fort Collins, Colo.
Jaspers' sophomore guard Michael Alvarado dominated the second half scoring 20 of his team-high 22 points in the final 20 minutes of regulation. Alvarado buried the game-tying 3-pointer with 0.8 seconds remaining to force overtime and top off the Jaspers' 57 point second half scoring spree.
Colorado State junior guard Wes Eikmeier scored six of his game-high 23 points in overtime as the Rams managed to hold off the Jaspers. Eikmeier shot 11-for-12 from the free-throw line, contributing to the Rams 43 point feast at the charity stripe. Colorado State converted 79.6% (43-54) of its free-throw attempts.
Four other Jaspers joined Alvarado with double-figures in the scoring column, including senior forward Roberto Colonette who recorded his first career double-double. One night after knocking down the game winning bucket to defeat Fresno State, Colonette exploded for career-highs with 15 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks.
Manhattan freshman forward Emmy Andujar also posted his personal bests with 15 points on 6-for-7 shooting and seven rebounds. Junior guard George Beamon scored double-figures for the 20th straight contest dating back to last season and senior Liam McCabe-Moran matched his career-high that he set the previous night with 10 points.
The Jaspers were set back 37-22 at halftime after Colorado State junior guard Dorian Green erupted for 10 of his 17 points in the stanza. Manhattan gradually climbed back in the second half using its high pressure defense to get in striking distance. With 3:06 on the clock, Andujar converted a lay-up to bring the Jaspers within 70-62 sparking Manhattan's 19-9 scoring surge to close regulation.
Andujar and Alvarado combined for 16 of Manhattan's last 19 points of regulation, while McCabe-Moran buried a clutch 3-pointer with 25 seconds remaining to bring Manhattan within 77-76. Colorado State junior forward Greg Smith made a pair of free-throws on the next trip down floor to set the stage for Alvarado's game-tying 3-pointer. The Rams last 15 points over the final 6:28 of regulation all came from the free-throw line.
After Smith's second free-throw pierced the net, the Jaspers gave the ball to Alvarado who raced to the top of the key and buried a contested 3-pointer to send the contest to overtime. Alvarado shot a sweltering 7-for-8 in the second half, 5-for-5 at the free-throw line and he dished out four of his season-high five assists.
Eikmeier knocked down two jumpers in the first two minutes of overtime and Rams' junior guard Jesse Carr added another field goal as Colorado State quickly grabbed a five point advantage that it managed to hang on to. Carr finished with 10 points, Smith added 13 points and senior guard Kaipo Sabas led the Rams' bench with 11 points.
Manhattan received seven points from freshman guard Donovan Kates and four assists from senior guard Kidani Brutus who played a limited 16 minutes due to foul trouble. For the second straight night, the Jaspers received good defensive production off the bench from junior Kevin Laue. The 6'11" center swatted two shots and grabbed one rebound.
The Jaspers won the battle of the boards 31-23 and scored 26 points in the paint. Manhattan finished shooting 49% (25-51) from the field and had nine 3-pointers. Colorado State harbored a 52.5% (21-40) field goal percentage and went 6-for-9 from downtown.
Manhattan returns to action on Saturday at home in the newly renovated Draddy Gymnasium when the Jaspers host Columbia. Tip off is slated for 2 p.m.
