Box Score
RIVERDALE, N.Y. - The Manhattan men's basketball team delivered an inspired performance on Sunday as the Jaspers relied on a stellar defensive effort to earn a 53-51 victory over Fairfield (8-8, 3-2 MAAC) at Draddy Gymnasium. Playing before numerous Jasper basketball alumni, including the 1991-1992 squad who was honored at halftime for the 20th anniversary of their memorable National Invitation Tournament run, Manhattan (10-7, 3-2 MAAC) used a game-high 16 points from junior guard George Beamon to earn its 10th victory of the season.
"It was a typical conference game, very hard fought. Two teams who defended very well tonight didn't give up anything easy," explained Manhattan first year head coach Steve Masiello. "I think Fairfield is a team to be reckoned with. We are very lucky to come out with the win tonight. The key was our ability to take away the three-point shot."
Beamon got help from freshman forward Emmy Andujar who had 10 points on 4-for-6 shooting, four rebounds and three assists. Jaspers' senior guard Kidani Brutus and sophomore forward Rhamel Brown combined for 14 of Manhattan's 20 bench points as the Jaspers snapped a six game losing streak to Fairfield with their first win over the Stags since 2009.
The Jaspers slow start found themselves trailing by as many as 10 points with 5:58 remaining in the first half after a lay up from Rakim Sanders to put Fairfield on top 24-14. Sanders, a senior transfer from Boston College, finished with a double-double posting 14 points and 16 rebounds. Manhattan's offense came to life in the final four minutes of the first half as the Jaspers closed with an 11-1 run, courtesy of three consecutive 3-pointers from Beamon to wrap up the stanza locked 27-27.
"George knocked down a couple big threes in the first half to keep it close," explained Masiello. "That's what we want to do, we want to be in the game late, in the last seven, eight minutes of the game and try to steal it. We feel our conditioning is superior to almost anyone."
Manhattan traded the lead with Fairfield seven times in the second half. Fairfield built its largest advantage of the stanza after junior guard Sean Crawford knocked down two 3-pointers putting the Stags on top 48-41 with 7:28 remaining. After Crawford's treys, Manhattan's defense that ranks second in the MAAC in field goal defense (39.9%) went on lock down. The Jaspers would hold Fairfield to only three points the rest of the game as they mounted a 12-3 game winning run.
Brown came up with four points and the biggest assist of the game in the Jaspers final surge. On Manhattan's ensuing trip down court following Sanders' dunk that put the Stags up 51-49 at 2:56, Brown used his athleticism to save a lob pass from floating out of bounds under the hoop. As he toe tapped the sideline Brown found Brutus open beyond arc who buried the go-ahead 3-pointer (52-51) with 2:27 remaining.
Manhattan held Fairfield scoreless the rest of the way, but dodged a bullet in the Stags final possession. The Jaspers were clinching a 53-51 lead on Michael Alvarado's free-throw with 18 seconds on the clock as Fairfield junior guard Derek Needham fouled out. Coming out of a timeout with 11 seconds, Fairfield got the ball to junior guard Desmond Wade whose 3-point attempt clanked off the rim. Beamon corralled the rebound to secure the victory.
The Jaspers limited Needham, the 2010-2011 All-MAAC First Team selection, to 2-for-12 shooting and 0-for-7 from 3-point territory. Manhattan held Fairfield to 32.0% (16-50) field goal percentage and only 3-for-20 (15.0%) from downtown.
Manhattan will have its toughest test of the season on Thursday when the Jaspers travel to Iona who sits in first place in the MAAC with a perfect 5-0 record. The Jaspers and Gaels will tip-off at 7 p.m. at the Hynes Athletic Center.
