Box Score
RIVERDALE, N.Y. - Rhamel Brown put the Jaspers on his back as he exploded for 21 points, 10 rebounds and seven blocks to lead Manhattan past Saint Peter's (7-15, 2-10) on Sunday at Draddy Gymnasium. Sophomores Donovan Kates and RaShawn Stores added 10 points apiece as Manhattan picked up its fourth win in seven home games this season
Manhattan (7-15, 5-7) enjoyed one of its top free-throw shooting performances of the year converting 30-of-36 (83.3%) attempts. Junior point guard Michael Alvarado shot a perfect 8-for-8 from the line to anchor the Jaspers superb effort. Brown was 5-for-6 and Stores sank 7-of-8 attempts.
The Jaspers' clamped down on Saint Peter's limiting the Peacocks to a 34.5% field goal mark and 4-for-15 (26.7%) from three-point territory. It was the fifth straight game that Manhattan's stingy defense held their opponent to a sub 40% shooting performance.
Sophomore guard Desi Washington led Saint Peter's with 16 points, hitting four three-pointers. He had two of his threes early in the first half during a 14-5 run that helped send the Peacocks into halftime with a 24-20 advantage.
Saint Peter's built its lead to six points five minutes into the second half on Washington's three that put the Peacocks up 33-27. The Jaspers answered by scoring the next eight points to capture their first lead of the stanza, 35-33, with Kates three-pointer at 10:17.
The Jaspers and Peacocks traded baskets over the next six minutes as the game featured six ties during this stretch, before Manhattan made its game winning push. The Jaspers recaptured a one point lead on Alvarado's free-throws at 4:45 that it would not relinquish.
Alvarado hit all six of his free-throw attempts in the last five minutes to lead Manhattan's 14-for-15 shooting effort down the stretch. Brown completed a three point play with 1:52 remaining that gave Manhattan a seven point advantage and put the game on ice.
Brown delivered arguably his top performance since his arrival in Riverdale. He converted 8-of-10 field goal attempts in 33 minutes of action. His career-high seven blocks also sent him in the top-5 of Manhattan's single season blocks chart for the third straight season with 64. The 6'7" junior from Brooklyn now stands only four blocks away from tying Steve Grant (220, 1974-78) for the program's career record.
Manhattan held a 36-33 advantage on the glass with sophomore forward Emmy Andujar contributing nine boards off the bench. Kates added five rebounds.
Manhattan looks to carry the momentum into Thursday's ESPN3 contest with Canisius at Draddy Gymnasium. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
