Box Score
Box Score
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. - Four road games for Manhattan this season. Four victories.
Michael Alvarado scored 17 of his 23 points in the second half to help lift Manhattan to a 66-59 victory at Hofstra at the Mack Sports Complex on Saturday afternoon.
The Jaspers started the game using a trapping full-court press to take an early 9-5 lead. Neither team led by more than five points during a hotly contested first half, in which Hofstra led 30-27 after the first 20 minutes.
Manhattan started the second half as quickly as it began the first half. Hofstra's Stephen Nwaukoni sank two free throws to begin the half then the Jaspers ripped off a 7-0 run, capped by a Shane Richards three-pointer to grab a 34-32 lead at the 17:34 mark.
Emmy Andujar converted a nifty three-point play to push Manhattan's lead to 41-36 at the 13-minute mark as the Jaspers pushed its lead to eight, 52-44, on an Alvarado free throw at the 7:18 mark.
After that point, Hofstra's Zeke Upshaw caught fire and led his team back to a 54-54 tie with a pair of three-pointers in the next three minutes. After two Andujar free throws, Upshaw tied the game again with a running jumper. Alvarado responded with a basket of his own, but again Hofstra tied the game at 58. On the next possession, Alvarado drew a foul and made his two foul shots to put the Jaspers back in front, 60-58 at the 2:30 mark.
Nwuakoni made one of two from the line to make it a 60-59 game and Alvarado connected on another basket to push Manhattan's lead to three with 1:33 left. The Jaspers forced a miss on the next Hofstra possession and had the ball ahead by three. Alvarado drove the lane, drawing a defender, allowing
Rhamel Brown to tip in the miss and make it a two-possession game.
In the final seconds, it was fitting that Alvarado stepped to the line to sink two free throws to make it a 66-59 game and seal the victory for the Jaspers.
Alvarado's 23 led all scorers, while Upshaw's 21 paced Hofstra.
Ashton Pankey made all four of his field goals and finished with a season-high 10 points.
Rich Williams made his first collegiate start and scored nine for the Jaspers.
"This team has shown so many great signs," head coach
Steve Masiello said after the game. "I'm very proud of our effort tonight."
Manhattan will begin MAAC play on Friday, December 6 at Marist in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. Game time is 7 p.m.
NOTES:
The last time Manhattan won four straight road games to open the season was to start the 1994-95 campaign ...
Michael Alvarado scored 15 of his 23 points in the last 11:05 of the game ... the Jaspers made 18 of 23 from the free throw line ... Manhattan committed fewer than 10 turnovers for the second straight game ... after Hofstra shot 45.8 percent in the first half, the Jaspers held the Pride to 34.6 percent in the second half ...
Rhamel Brown blocked two shots and has blocked at least two shots in each game this season ... this was Manhattan's first game in which either team scored fewer than 70 points ... Manhattan has won the last three contests with Hofstra.
