Box Score
Box Score
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. - Fairfield jumped out to a 39-23 halftime advantage and held off a furious Manhattan rally in the final minutes to capture a 71-67 victory over the Jaspers at Webster Bank Arena on Saturday afternoon.
The Jaspers stormed out to a 5-0 lead after Michael Alvarado fed Rhamel Brown for a dunk and RaShawn Stores canned a three-pointer. Fairfield answered with a 15-2 run over the next six minutes to grab a 15-7 lead at the 12:40 mark of the first half.
The Stags hit seven three-pointers during the first 20 minutes and 53.8 percent from the field to open up a 16-point lead at intermission.
Rich Williams scored the first basket of the second half but the Jaspers still trailed 44-25 on a layup by KJ Rose with 17:21 to play. Manhattan then embarked on an 11-2 run, capped by an Alvarado free throw to get within 10 points, 46-36, with 13:49 left.
The Jaspers cut the Fairfield lead to nine points on four different occasions over the next seven minutes before an Ashton Pankey free throw made it 60-52 with 5:44 remaining. With two minutes left, Fairfield still led 64-54 before Donovan Kates drilled a three-pointer to bring Manhattan within seven points.
Manhattan still trailed 66-58 with less than a minute to play as Shane Richards sank a three-pointer of his own to make it a five-point game. After Sean Grennan missed two free throws, Alvarado's driving layup gave the Jaspers an opening, making it a three-point game with 12.2 seconds left.
Maurice Barrow made one of two free throws to give the Stags a 69-65 lead and again, Alvarado drove the lane to make it a two-point game, 69-67, with 4.4 seconds left. Having to foul once again, the Jaspers sent Barrow to the line with 2.2 seconds left. Barrow sank both of his foul shots, giving Fairfield a four-point cushion, 71-67.
Alvarado's 22 points led all scorers as the Manhattan point guard scored more than 20 points for the fourth consecutive contest. He also added three assists and two steals. Ashton Pankey scored a season-high 11 points and added six rebounds and two blocked shots.
Barrow led Fairfield with 18 points and Marcus Gilbert finished with 17 for the Stags.
Now 13-4 and 6-2 in the MAAC, Manhattan is back in action on Friday, January 24 vs. Rider at Draddy Gymnasium. The game will be televised live on ESPNU, starting at 7 p.m.
NOTES:
Michael Alvarado scored 20 of his 22 points in the second half ... he is averaging 24.8 points per game over the last four games ... Alvarado has six games this season when he has scored 20 or more ... Manhattan limited Fairfield to 31.6% shooting in the second half, outscoring Fairfield 44-32 in the half ... the Jaspers held a 16-13 advantage on the offensive glass ... Manhattan finished with nine steals, matching its season average of 9.1 steals per game, which ranked 20th in the nation heading into the contest.
