Box Score
Box Score
RIVERDALE, N.Y. - Manhattan put together one of its best defensive performances of the season in a 64-49 victory over Saint Peter's at Draddy Gymnasium on Tuesday night. The Jaspers led from start to finish, holding the Peacocks to 36 percent shooting from the field and just one made three-pointer.
The Jaspers came out with high intensity on both ends of the court to start the game. Two of the first three baskets of the game came on emphatic dunks by Ashton Pankey and Rhamel Brown after nice post feeds by Michael Alvarado, who finished with six assists.
After the first six minutes, Manhattan stormed out to a 16-6 lead on an Alvarado fast break layup. The Jaspers opened up a 14-point advantage on two occasions late in the first half before Saint Peter's cut its deficit to 29-20 on a Desi Washington free throw with 30 seconds left.
Holding for the last shot, Manhattan head coach Steve Masiello called time out to draw up a play in which Alvarado found an open Shane Richards for three with the clock winding down, giving the Jaspers a 32-20 lead heading into halftime.
Saint Peter's began the second half on an 11-4 run, making it a 36-31 game on a Kris Rolle layup at the 13:55 mark. RaShawn Stores then responded for the Jaspers by knocking down an open triple to push Manhattan's lead back to eight, 39-31.
A three-point play by Travis Wyche cut the Manhattan lead to 42-38 at the 9:35 mark of the second half, the closest the Peacocks would get down the stretch. On the next Manhattan possession, Rhamel Brown made a beautiful move in the post and threw down a two-handed slam to make it a 44-38 game.
Richards and Beamon then connected on back to back three-pointers to give Manhattan a 50-38 lead at the 7:05 mark. The Jaspers led by double figures the rest of the way en route to their eighth conference win of the season.
Richards had 13 points off the bench to lead the Jaspers, which received a season-high 12 points and eight boards from Ashton Pankey. Beamon added 10 points and seven rebounds while Brown finished with nine points, five rebounds and two blocked shots.
"It was a good win for us," head coach Steve Masiello said after the game. "I thought we did a good job tonight of coming back and handling back to back losses."
Marvin Dominique paced the Peacocks with 15 points and nine rebounds.
Now 15-6 and 8-4 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, Manhattan will be back in action on Friday, February 7 at Canisius. The game begins at 7 p.m. and will be televised live nationwide on ESPNU.
NOTES:
The game was postponed from Monday night due to the snowstorm that blanketed the tri-state area yesterday … Manhattan has won six of its last seven games at home … the Jaspers have won 10 of their last 12 MAAC home games … Manhattan has won the last six meetings with Saint Peter's ... Manhattan also led from start to finish in its first meeting against Saint Peter's in January … every player who dressed played for Manhattan, including freshman walk-on Trevor Glassman, who joined the team at the start of the spring semester … Michael Alvarado has handed out at least six assists in each of the last four games … George Beamon moved past Steve Grant '78 for sixth place on the Jaspers' career scoring list ... the win was the 50th career victory for Manhattan head coach Steve Masiello … he reached 50 wins more quickly than any other Manhattan head coach in the last 50 years besides Fran Fraschilla, who also won 50 games in his third season on the Jaspers' sidelines.
