Box Score
RIVERDALE, N.Y. - The longest active win streak in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference was snapped on Sunday with the Manhattan men's basketball team's 60-56 setback to Niagara (16-11, 12-4) at Draddy Gymnasium. The Purple Eagles' needed sophomore guard Juan'ya Green's game-high 18 points to end Manhattan's (10-16, 8-8) four-game win streak. Sophomore forward Donovan Kates led Manhattan in scoring for the third time in the last five games finishing with 14 points.
Jaspers' sophomore forward Emmy Andujar scored eight of his 10 points in the second half to keep Manhattan within striking distance down the stretch. His two free-throws with two minutes remaining cut the Purple Eagles' advantage to 51-49, but Niagara executed on the next two possessions. Freshman forward T.J. Cline got a layup off a double back screen. Green followed with a three-pointer to open a seven point advantage with 45 seconds remaining.
Green posted 13 of his 18 points in the second half. He dished out four assists and shot a perfect 5-for-5 from the free-throw line. Junior guard Marvin Jordan added 16 points with four three-pointers helping Niagara pick up its second straight win.
Jaspers' junior forward Rhamel Brown scored 10 of his 12 points and blocked four shots in the opening stanza. He had nearly half of Manhattan's points at the break as the Jaspers trailed 22-21. Manhattan's defense stifled Niagara keeping the Purple Eagles to a 25.8% (8-31) field goal percentage in the first half. Jordan had eight points at intermission.
Manhattan received 11 points from junior point guard Michael Alvarado in the second half. He shot a 7-for-7 from the free-throw line.
Alvarado helped the Jaspers capture the lead in the second stanza on three occasions, but the Purple Eagles had an answer each time. Manhattan took a one point lead on Alvarado's jumper at 19:36, before Jordan answered with a three. After Kates gave Manhattan a one point advantage at 12:03 Green connected on a jumper 32 seconds later. Alvarado gave Manhattan its last lead of the game (39-38) at the 9:25 mark with free-throws, but it was only 18 seconds that went by before Jordan hit his fourth three-pointer.
The Jaspers held a 35-29 advantage on the glass with Andujar recording a game-high nine rebounds and Brown grabbing eight. Andujar also had two assists and two steals off the bench. Brown shot 6-for-10 from the field and made two steals in the contest.
Manhattan takes a break from MAAC action as the Jaspers next contest is Saturday at Buffalo as part of the 2013 Ramada Worldwide BracketBusters. Tip-off against the Bulls is set for 2 p.m.
