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Bridgeport, CT - Fueled by 13-straight points, Manhattan completed the season sweep of Fairfield with a decisive 59-53 win in MAAC action at Webster Bank Arena.
The victory snaps an 11-game losing streak in the arena dating back to December 8, 2006 as the Jaspers improve to 8-9 and 3-2 in the league while the Stags fall to 6-10 and 1-4 in the league.
Sophomore
Pauly Paulicap (Elmont, NY / Harcum College) led the way with 14 points, seven rebounds and three blocks while senior
Rich Williams (Brooklyn, NY / Vermont Academy (VT)) added 10 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals.
Senior
Zane Waterman's (Winston-Salem, NC / Fayetteville Academy) second-half dunk was lauded by
Sportscenter as the #SCTop10 No. 5 play of the day:
Manhattan started out on fire, hitting on seven of its first 11 shoots in jumping out to a 14-7 lead with 12:50 until halftime with thanks to eight points from Paulicap.
Later in the half with the lead still at seven, Fairfield ripped off a 19-6 run in opening up a 31-25 advantage with 2:33 to play until halftime. Junior
Thomas Capuano (Hastings-on-Hudson, NY / Iona Prep) quickly quelled the spurt with a layup in sparking a 6-0 half-ending run to draw the Jaspers even at the break.
Manhattan opened the second half with eight-straight points in building an insurmountable 39-31 lead with 15:07 to play, highlighted by a pair of
Calvin Crawford (Sr., Middletown, NY / St. Thomas More (CT)) shot clock beating jumpers. The lead would grow to a game-high 12 for the second time in the half at 55-43 when sophomore
Aaron Walker Jr.'s (Brooklyn, NY / Cardozo) buried a three pointer with 4:42 to play as the shot clock was expiring.
Fairfield would make one last push with seven-straight points before Williams for all intents and purposes put the game on ice, burying a three pointer with just 60 seconds remaining.
Manhattan shot 51.1 percent (24-of-47) from the floor, including 58.3 percent (7-of-12) from deep, while posting a 28-26 advantage on the glass.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- The Jaspers' last victory at the arena came by a 57-54 count on December 8, 2006.
- Head Coach
Steve Masiello improved to 41-5 at Manhattan when limiting the opposition to less than 60 points.
- Senior
Zavier Turner (Indianapolis, IN / Ball State) handed out five assists, against one turnover, and is averaging 11.2 ppg and 4.4 apg with a 2.4 assist/turnover ratio during MAAC play.
- Manhattan's defense limited Fairfield to just 38.5 percent (42-of-109) shooting, including 28.3 percent (15-of-53) from deep, over two games this year.
- Paulicap averaged 15.0 ppg and 8.5 rpg this year against the Stags.
- Fairfield was limited to a pair of scoreless streaks: 6:23 in the first half and 7:52 spanning the first and second halves.
- The Stags' 53 points were a season-low and the fewest allowed by the Jaspers.
- Fairfield was paced by Ferron Flavors Jr. and Tyler Nelson, each of whom had 14 points.
UP NEXT
- Manhattan will host Siena on Saturday, January 13 with opening tip tabbed for 7:00 pm at Draddy Gymnasium. Click
HERE for tickets.
