Box Score
Box Score
RIVERDALE, N.Y. - Before a sellout crowd of 2,520 people packed into Draddy Gymnasium, Manhattan defeated Iona 80-77 in overtime in another classic affair between two squads separated by nine miles.
Junior Emmy Andujar scored a career-high 28 points on 12 of 18 field goals and blocked a driving layup attempt by Iona's Tre Bowman to keep the game tied at 71-71 in regulation. Andujar then scored five of Manhattan's nine points in overtime to help seal the 21st victory of the season for Manhattan, keeping the team in contention for the second seed in next weekend's MAAC Tournament.
In what started and ended in a raucous atmosphere, the Jaspers and Gaels got off to a hot start. Manhattan shot 48.6 percent from the field, while Iona made 50 percent of its shots. After Iona led 20-13, the Jaspers stormed back to take a 35-27 advantage at the 6:22 mark of the first half. Manhattan's pressure defense forced 10 Iona turnovers in the first half as the Jaspers carried a 45-35 lead into intermission, capped by a RaShawn Stores three-pointer with five seconds left in the half.
Iona scored the first six points of the second half, but Manhattan still led 54-47 on an Andujar layup at the 13:51 mark. The Gaels eventually tied the game at 61 on a Tre Bowman basket with 7:32 remaining and took a 65-63 lead on an AJ English layup two minutes later.
Manhattan regained the advantage after consecutive baskets by Andujar and George Beamon, who finished with his fifth double-double of the season (13 points, 11 rebounds). A three-pointer by Sean Armand put the Gaels back in front by a point, 68-67 with three minutes remaining.
Beamon sank two free throws to give the Jaspers a one-point edge, 69-68, with 1:24 left to play. With the clock winding down under a minute, Iona's Sean Armand buried a three-pointer that gave Iona a 71-69 lead.
Manhattan called a full timeout to draw up a play in the final minute. The play ended up in the hands of Beamon, who drained an off-balance floater at the foul line to tie the game at 71. Iona had a chance in the final seconds, when Bowman drove the lane going for a game-winning layup. Andujar and Rhamel Brown converged in the paint and Andujar was able to deflect the shot, come down with the rebound and take it down the other end. Andujar's game-winning shot was denied but his defensive play allowed the Jaspers to play another five minutes.
Iona got the first bucket of the extra session, but Andujar found a cutting Beamon to tie the game at 73 with three minutes left. On Iona's next possession, Andujar cut into the passing lane, stole the ball, took it coast to coast, made a layup and was fouled. He hit the ensuing free throw to give the Jaspers a 76-73 advantage they would not relinquish.
Andujar ultimately sealed the victory for the Jaspers by converting a driving layup with 22 seconds left to make it a two-possession game at 80-75.
"This rivalry has turned into something special," Manhattan head coach Steve Masiello said after the game. "I think it's one of the better rivalries in college basketball, regardless of level. You wish both teams could win because the kids put so much into it, everyone cares so much. The best came out in the players tonight, and I think that's what's awesome about this."
Manhattan improves its record to 21-7 and 14-5 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference with the victory. Iona is now 19-9 and 16-3 in the conference.
The Jaspers are back in action on Sunday, March 2 on Senior Day against Canisius at Draddy Gymnasium. Game time on ESPN3 is 4:30 p.m and our Senior Day ceremony will begin at 4:10 p.m. We encourage all fans to arrive early on Sunday to salute seniors Michael Alvarado, George Beamon and Rhamel Brown.
NOTES:
The lead changed hands 13 times and there were nine ties during the game ... the game was the fifth overtime game for Manhattan this year ... the Jaspers are 4-1 in overtime games ... Manhattan outrebounded Iona 47-41 and 17-14 on the offensive glass ... the Jaspers had 10 steals in the game ... Rhamel Brown finished with nine points, nine rebounds and four blocked shots ... Brown has blocked at least four shots in 15 games ... RaShawn Stores dished out five assists without any turnovers ... Emmy Andujar is averaging 18 points and six rebounds during the past three games ... Shane Richards canned two three-pointers to move into sixth place with 134 career triples ... Manhattan finished with a 7-1 record during February ... the Jaspers have won eight of their last nine games at Draddy Gymnasium and 12 of their last 14 home contests, dating back to last season ... last season's game with Iona at Draddy Gym went to double overtime, when Andujar converted a game-winning layup to give Manhattan a 74-73 win.
