Box Score Box Score | ESPN3 Highlights
ALBANY, N.Y. - George Beamon had 17 points and seven rebounds, Emmy Andujar scored 14 points and grabbed eight rebounds and Rhamel Brown nearly had a triple-double with nine points, nine blocked shots (tying a program record he set earlier this year) and eight rebounds, but it was not enough as Siena defeated Manhattan 67-63 at the Times Union Center on Friday night.
It was a hard-fought, physical game throughout. After Manhattan led 16-13 on a Michael Alvarado layup at the 8:58 mark, Siena sprinted ahead with a 15-1 run that gave the Saints a 28-17 advantage. The Jaspers rallied back to cut the deficit to 34-30 at halftime, paced by George Beamon's 11 points in the half.
Beamon canned a triple to start the second half and Andujar had a putback to give the Jaspers a 35-34 advantage with 18 minutes to go. Neither team led by more than four points until Ryan Oliver, who was scoreless all game, drilled a 25-foot three-pointer with the shot clock winding down to put Siena ahead, 57-52 at the 2:45 mark.
Brown came back to score on a nifty post move on Manhattan's next possession, but again Oliver buried a deep triple with the shot clock expiring to give the Saints a 60-54 advantage.
Manhattan continued to battle, capitalizing on a Siena turnover and missed free throws in the final two minutes. Trailing 63-60 with 13.2 seconds left, the Jaspers had a chance to tie on a three-shot foul but only converted one of the three to make it a 63-51 game.
Siena's Rob Poole made all four of his free throws in the final 11 seconds to help seal the win for the Saints, their 10th straight over Manhattan in Albany, dating back to the 2005-06 season.
Now 20-7 and 13-5 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, the Jaspers will return to action on Friday, February 28 against Iona at Draddy Gymnasium at 7 p.m.
NOTES:
Rhamel Brown's nine blocked shots set a single-game record at the Times Union Center ... Brown entered the game ranked second in the country in blocked shots per game and is the active career leader among Division I players in blocked shots ... the Jaspers are now 12-4 in true road games ... the loss snapped a six-game win streak overall for Manhattan ... George Beamon is averaging 24.0 points during the last six games ... Beamon has scored in double figures in 21 of 24 games this season ... Shane Richards made two three-pointers to tie gojaspers.com's Chris Williams '93 for sixth place on the program's career list ... Emmy Andujar made five of six field goals ... Manhattan outrebounded Siena 42-36 ... there were 16 lead changes in the game.
