Second-Half Rally Falls Short At Monmouth

Box Score (PDF)

West Long Branch, NJ - Manhattan trimmed a 13-point deficit to four midway through the second half, but could get no closer in dropping a 65-49 decision to Monmouth in MAAC action at the OceanFirst Bank Center.

Senior Thomas Capuano (Hastings-on-Hudson, NY / Iona Prep) paced the Jaspers, scoring all of his team-high 11 points after halftime, while junior Tyler Reynolds (Syracuse, NY / Harcum College) added nine points as the duo combined to go 6-of-9 from long range.

Trailing 34-21 at the break, Manhattan came roaring out of the gates as Capuano scored eight-straight to start the second half, quickly making it a five-point game. After Mustapha Traore briefly quelled the momentum, Reynolds drained his third triple of the afternoon to bring the Jaspers to within four at 34-30 with 11:14 to play.
 
Manhattan would trim it to four on one more occasion when freshman Warren Williams (Kingston, Jamaica / St. Benedict's Prep (NJ)) hit a pair from the line at the 10:21 mark. Unfortunately, Monmouth used a 9-2 spurt to extend the lead back to double-figures while gaining much-needed separation from the hard-charging Jaspers.

Notes
* Today's game was the second of a four-game road trip.

* The Jaspers fall to 3-13 and 1-3 in the MAAC while the Hawks improve to 3-14 and 2-2 in the league.

* Sophomore Nehemiah Mack (Harrisburg, PA / Massanutten Prep (VA)) registered a career-high matching five assists for the third time in four MAAC games.

* Manhattan won the rebounding battle by a scant 33-32 count, but dominated the offensive glass by a 14-5 margin. 

* Freshman Tykei Greene (Queens, NY / Long Island Lutheran) pulled down a career-high eight rebounds while sophomore Ebube Ebube (San Juan, Puerto Rico / Lawrenceville Academy (NJ)) had seven rebounds and six points.

* Ray Salnave led Monmouth with 17 points, six assists and five rebounds while Traore added 10 points and eight rebounds.

* The Hawks led 34-21 at the break, despite the fact the Jaspers made good on 5-of-11 from downtown.

Up Next
* Manhattan will travel to Saint Peter's on Thursday, January 17 for a 7:00 pm match-up.