Box Score Box Score (HTML) | Box Score (PDF) | | Press Conference | Highlights | Alumni Game Highlights
Riverdale, NY - Senior Shane Richards (New York, NY / York Prep) scored a game-high 22 points to lead Manhattan to a 69-64 victory over Niagara at Draddy Gymnasium.
With the win, the Jaspers improve to 7-10 and 4-4 in the MAAC while the Purple Eagles fall to 5-14 and 3-5 in the league.
Manhattan closed out the game with a 7-3 run over the final 2:36 after Nigara pulled to within one at 62-61 on an Emile Blackman dunk. However, the Jaspers rose to the occasions forcing turnovers on each of the next three Purple Eagle possesions, including two by drawing charges.
Senior RaShawn Stores (Bronx, NY / Robinson School) put the game on ice with four free throws over the final 11.7 seconds en route to finishing with 15 points to go along with four rebounds and three assists.
Manhattan opened the game by hitting on nine of its first 15 shots en route to going in front 23-12 with 11:27 to play until halftime. Additionally, the Jaspers assisted on all nine field goals in setting the tone for the game.
Niagara would trim the deficit to four on a pair of occasions before Manhattan went into halftime up 39-31 thanks to making good on 50.0 percent from the floor (15-of-30) and from long range (7-of-14).
After halftime, the Purple Eagles would rally to tie the game at 46-46 with 12:49 to play on a Matt Scott layup only to have Richards answer just 24 seconds later with a three pointer. Stores followed with a layup off a steal as the Jaspers would not trail the rest of the way.
Richards notched his seventh 20-point performance of the year and the 14th of his career, finishing up 5-of-9 from the floor, including 4-of-8 from distance, and a perfect 8-of-8 from the line en route to his aforementioned 22 points.
Junior Rich Williams (Brooklyn, NY / Vermont Academy (VT)) and sophomore Zane Waterman (Winston-Salem, NC / Fayetteville Academy) each added 12 points and five rebounds to round out the double-figure scores while classmate Calvin Crawford (Middletown, NY / St. Thomas More (CT)) pulled down a team-best seven rebounds.
Scott led all players with 21 points and eight rebounds to pace the Niagara effort.
Manhattan returns to action against Monmouth on Thursday, January 21 with opening tip slated for 8:00 pm.
Notes:
* Manhattan forced 18 turnovers that led to 21 points and have turned the opposition over at least 15 times on 11 occasions.
* Six of the Jaspers' eight MAAC games have been decided by six points or less.
* Waterman has scored in double-fifgures in six of his last seven games.
* Manhattan drew three offensive fouls after recording just three in the previous six games.
* The Jaspers limited the Purple Eagles into just 16.7 percent (2-of-12) shooting from long range, including 1-of-6 after halftime.
*Over the last nine games, the Manhattan defense is limiting opposing shooters to just 21.3 percent (16-of-75) on threes after halftime.
*Prior to the game was the program's annual Alumni Game. Click HERE for the highlights.
