Box Score
RIVERDALE, N.Y. - The Manhattan men's basketball team upended Fairfield 34-31 Friday as the squads set a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) record for fewest combined points in a game. The 65 total points also marked the second fewest in NCAA Division I since the three-point arc was instituted in 1986. Jaspers' freshman forward Shane Richards was the only player to post double-figures, finishing with 11 points off the bench to help Manhattan (12-16, 9-8) earn its sixth victory in the last seven games.
Manhattan still controls its own destiny to finish in the top-6 of the MAAC standings entering its regular-season finale at Loyola on Sunday. After completing the regular-season sweep of Fairfield (17-13, 9-8), either a win over the Greyhounds or a Stags' loss at Marist would secure at least sixth place. A three-way tiebreaker scenario with Iona and Fairfield could elevate the Jaspers to fifth place. The #7 - #10 seeds at the MAAC Tournament must play an opening round contest.
It was an anemic offensive night for both teams in the Jaspers' final home contest at Draddy Gymnasium this season. The Jaspers and Stags shattered the previous MAAC record of 80 combined points set on Feb. 23, 1982 (Saint Peter's 44, Manhattan 36).
Jaspers' junior forward Rhamel Brown finished with six points, seven rebounds and he swatted five shots. Brown reset the program's single season blocks record that he posted last season as he increased his total to 87.
Fairfield buried four of its six three-point field goals in the first five minutes of the game before its offense came to a screeching halt. Manhattan held the Stags scoreless for the next 9:32 as the Jaspers mounted a 13-0 run to take its first lead of the ballgame. Graduate student Roberto Colonette buried a three-pointer with 8:08 on the clock to send Manhattan ahead 15-12.
Only four more field goals were converted in the final eight minutes of the first half, the Stags hit three of them. Fairfield carried a 19-18 advantage into halftime after Marcus Gilbert sank his third three-pointer of the stanza with 40 seconds on the clock.
The pace slowed even more in the second half as the Jaspers and Stags combined to score only 28 points in the last 20 minutes. Manhattan opened its largest lead of the game when sophomore forward Emmy Andujar put the Jaspers up 24-20 on a pair of free-throws with 14:35 remaining. Andujar had six of Manhattan's 16 second half points.
Fairfield answered with a 9-2 spurt that lasted seven minutes to open its largest lead of the period on Justin Jenkins three to go on top 29-26 at 7:34. Richards countered with his third three-pointer 30 seconds later even the contest.
Keith Mathews gave Fairfield a two point cushion with a layup at 4:49, but they were the last points the Stags' would record. Sophomore guard RaShawn Stores hit the biggest shot of the night at the 1:27 mark with his three-pointer to regain a 32-31 edge for Manhattan.
Donovan Kates extended Manhattan's lead to 34-31 with a pair of free-throws with 15 seconds remaining. Fairfield got the ball to junior forward Maurice Barrow on the last possession of the contest, but his game-tying three-point attempt was off the mark as Manhattan escaped with its second straight win.
Gilbert led Fairfield with nine points, while Colin Nickerson posted seven points, seven rebounds and a game-high four assists. Both clubs shot below 30% from the field.
Manhattan has a quick turnaround with its 12 p.m. tip off at Loyola on Sunday. The 2013 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championships begin on Friday, March 8 at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, Mass.
