Box Score
RIVERDALE, N.Y.- Fairfield guard Derek Needham scored a game-high 23 points as the Manhattan men's basketball team dropped a 65-56 decision to the first place Stags (19-5, 12-2 MAAC) in MAAC action on Friday from Draddy Gymnasium. Sophomore wing George Beamon led Manhattan (4-21, 2-12 MAAC) in scoring for the 15th time this season finishing with 11 points and a career-high seven assists.
The Jaspers erased an 11-point second half deficit and took a 45-44 edge with a 12-0 run capped by Beamon's jumper with 11:27 remaining. Fairfield responded with a 3-pointer by senior guard Lyndon Jordan, and then rallied for a 9-2 run which freshman forward Maurice Barrow completed a 3-point play to earn a 56-49 advantage at the 6:58 mark.
Manhattan worked its deficit back to three points (59-56) on graduate student Demetrius Jemison's jumper with 1:47 to go, but four straight free-throws by Needham and two more from senior forward Yorel Hawkins iced the Stags' victory.
Jemison and freshman forward Rhamel Brown each had eight points and a game-high seven rebounds. Brown swatted three shots to surpass Steve Grant (1976-77) for fourth place on the Jaspers' single season blocks list with 56 on the year.
The Jaspers trailed by nine points at halftime after Needham exploded for 16 points with all four of his 3-poitners coming in the opening 20 minutes. Needham anchored the Stags' free-throw shooting effort going 9-for-11 from the charity stripe.
Manhattan junior guard Kidani Brutus recorded his ninth double-digit scoring performance of the year scoring 10 points on 4-for-9 shooting, including two 3-pointers. Sophomore guard Mohamed Koita was one point shy of his career-high recording nine points, going along with two steals in 24 minutes off the bench.
Manhattan has a quick turnaround as it hosts Siena on Sunday at 2 p.m. The women's team continues an action packed Manhattan basketball five game home series in six days on Saturday when the Lady Jaspers face Saint Peter's at 2 p.m. It is 'Pack the House' day for the Lady Jaspers, so fans are encouraged to come out to Draddy Gymnasium to support the Manhattan women (17-6, 9-3 MAAC) who carry a five-game winning streak into the contest.
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