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RIVERDALE, N.Y. - Junior Shane Richards (New York, N.Y. / York Prep) paced five Manhattan players in double-figures with 22 points in an 84-75 win over Niagara in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play at Draddy Gymnasium.
With their season-high third-straight victory and their fifth in their last six, the Jaspers improve to 7-8 and 4-2 in the MAAC while the Purple Eagles fall to 3-11 and 2-4 in the league.
Manhattan scored a season-high 84 points and won for the eighth-straight time at home and the 13th time in 14 games dating back to last year. The Jaspers were able to avenge last week's loss to Niagara by forcing the visitors into 23 miscues, which the the defending MAAC Champions turned into a 28-6 advantage in points off turnovers.
Senior Emmy Andujar (Bronx, N.Y. / Rice) opened the scoring for Manhattan with a tip-in off an errant shot before classmate RaShawn Stores (Bronx, N.Y. / Robinson School (N.J.)) split a pair from the line and Richards hit a jumper to stake Manhattan to an early 5-0 lead.
The Purple Eagles would finally dent the scoreboard on the ensuing possession only to see junior Ashton Pankey (Bronx, N.Y. / Maryland) respond with five-straight points before Andujar split a pair from the line to make it an 11-2 game with 15:26 remaining.
Just over a minute later, the Jaspers would use another spurt (7-0) to open up a 20-6 lead with just over 13 minutes remaining. In their tone-setting run, Manhattan forced eight Niagara miscues that led to nine points.
With the Jaspers on the verge of breaking the game open, the Purple Eagles responded with 10-straight points in just over a minute to trim the deficit to 20-16 with 10:59 remaining. As he has done over the last few games, Stores rose to the challenge and answered with a big three pointer to keep the visitors at bay. Sophomore Jermaine Lawrence (Queens, N.Y. / Cincinnati) followed with a jumper in extending the lead out to 25-16 with just under 10 minutes remaining in the opening stanza.
Niagara, however, refused to go away and would cut the deficit to 41-38 at the half thanks to making good on a blistering 66.7 percent (14-of-21) from the field. Manhattan was able to take the halftime lead by turning 12 Purple Eagle miscues into a 16-0 advantage in points off turnovers.
The second half was an interesting battle as after Richards opened the scoring with a three pointer to push the Jasper lead out to 44-38. Niagara was unable to make it a single-possession game the rest of the way, but that didn't stop the Purple Eagles from making things interesting.
Niagara would trim the deficit to five points on seven occasions throughout the second half but was thwarted in each attempt to further whittle its once 14-point deficit.
Manhattan was able to fend off the visitors thanks to big second-half performances from its big three of Pankey, Richards and Andujar. Pankey notched 14 of his 19 points and six of his seven rebounds after halftime while Richards chipped in with 12 and Andujar 11 in providing the valuable upperclass experience that has been synonymous with the recent Jasper success.
The trio also combined with Stores and senior Donovan Kates (Hopkinsville, Ky. / Christian County) to account for all 43 points while shooting a blistering 85.2 percent (23-for-27) from the line, including making 14-straight to end the game.
Manhattan turned in another strong shooting performance, finishing up at 47.3 percent (26-for-55) while making good on 75.0 percent (27-for-36) from the line.
Niagara converted on 55.6 percent (25-for-45) from the field but was just 63.3 percent (19-for-30) from the line.
Richards' 22 points was his third career 20-point performance while Pankey (19), Andujar (16), Lawrence (career-high 11) and Stores (10) all recorded double-figures in scoring.
It also marked the first time that Manhattan placed five student-athletes in double-figures since the Jaspers' season-opener last year at La Salle.
The Purple Eagles were led by Wesley Myers, who scored 22 points off the bench.
Manhattan will look for its fourth-straight victory on Friday, Jan. 16 at Saint Peter's in a game that will be televised by ESPN3 with tip time slated for 7 p.m.
