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Riverdale, NY - Tykei Greene (Queens, NY / Long Island Lutheran) scored seven of his game and career-high 17 points in the final three-plus minutes to power Manhattan to a 57-51 come-from-behind win over UAlbany.
Greene's play fueled the Jaspers' game-ending 11-2 run while lifting the program to its second 2-0 start in the last three seasons.
The sophomore guard also pulled down a game and career-high nine rebounds, as Manhattan was able to erase a pair of double-digit deficits.
With the victory, the Jaspers are now 2-0 while the Great Danes fall to 1-2.
Trailing 49-46, Greene pulled down an offensive rebound before laying it back in to make it a one-point game with just over three minutes to play. After grabbing another carom on the defensive end, he calmly sank a pair of free throws to give Manhattan a one-point advantage.
UAlbany would briefly answer, before junior
Pauly Paulicap (Elmont, NY / Harcum College) converted a layup off an offensive rebound to give the Jaspers a one-point advantage with 1:22 to play.
After holding firm on the ensuing possession, Greene delivered an old-fashioned play to stretch the advantage out to 55-51 with 47 seconds to play.
Sophomore
Samir Stewart (Fort Lauderdale, FL / American Heritage) and Paulicap added free throws down the stretch to provide the final 57-51 count.
The Great Danes led the entire first half and after draining a three pointer to open the second, opened up what appeared to be a safe 34-23 lead with 19:43 remaining.
Down but not out, Manhattan would methodically mount a comeback, scoring 10-straight points in just over five minutes to slice the deficit to 34-33 with 14:01 remaining. Sophomore
Elijah Buchanan (Bronx, NY / Woodstock Academy (CT)) led the charge, scoring five of his nine points during the spurt.
Unfortunately, UAlbany would counter with six-straight points and led 41-35 with less than 10 minutes to play, before Stewart knocked home a pair of huge triples.
Powered by the Sunshine State native's big shots, the Jaspers claimed their first lead of the night at 46-43 following a Greene three pointer with just over six minutes remaining. In the back-and-forth second stanza.
The visitors would answer with six-straight points before Manhattan closed the game on the aforementioned 11-2 spurt.
The Jaspers limited the Great Danes to a chilly 28.3 percent (15-of-53) mark from the floor, including a paltry 19.2 percent (5-of-26) after halftime. The Jaspers also owned the glass by a 43-38 marking, including 11-10 on the offensive end,
Notes
* During the decisive game-ending 11-2 run, Manhattan converted on 3-of-4 from the floor while pressuring UAlbany into 1-for-7 shooting, with the visitors misfiring on all five three-point attempts.
* The Jaspers are now 51-9 (.850) under Head Coach
Steve Masiello when limiting the opposition to less than 60 points.
* Stewart joined Greene in double-figures with 14 points and was 3-for-7 from long range.
* Paulicap matched Greene with nine rebounds to go along with two blocks and eight points.
* Buchanan also pulled down a career-high eight rebounds.
* Manhattan outscored UAlbany in fast break points (11-0) and in the paint (26-18).
* The Jaspers now lead the all-time series by a 2-1 count, as the Jaspers previously defeated the visitors in the opening round of the CIT on March 14, 2012.
* Masiello's 129th career win also ties him with Bobby Gonzalez for fourth in program history.
* He is also 63-28 (.624), all-time, at Draddy Gymnasium and with four more victories will match Gonzalez's school-record total of 67.
* Manhattan College Athletic Hall of Famers Fran Fraschilla and Tim Cain were in attendance.
* Romani Hanson scored a team-high 12 points to pace UAlbany.
* The Great Danes' high-powered duo of Ahmad Clark and Cameron Healy were held to just 15 points, on 5-of-19 shooting, which included a 1-for-10 mark from long range.
Postgame Press Conference
Up Next
* Manhattan will head to Samford for its first road match-up of the year on Tuesday, November 19 with opening tip tabbed for 7:30 pm (EST).
