Siena Withstands Late Jasper Rally

Box Score (PDF)

Riverdale, NY - Manhattan dropped a 51-49 decision to Siena, despite a frantic late push that saw the Jaspers nearly erase a 14-point second half deficit.

Trailing 43-29 with 6:59 to play following an Evan Fisher jumper, freshman Samir Stewart (Fort Lauderdale, FL / American Heritage) stopped the bleeding with a three pointer.

Classmate Tykei Greene (Queens, NY / Long Island Lutheran) followed with a pair from the line before junior Tyler Reynolds (Syracuse, NY / Harcum College) canned a transition three pointer to trim the deficit to six at the final media stoppage (3:38) of the night. 

Media (3:32) | Reynolds with the transition triple to trim the Siena lead to 43-37. The Harcum College transfer now with 15 points. pic.twitter.com/sfouZfegr7

— Manhattan Basketball (@JaspersMBB) February 9, 2019

Kadeem Smithen briefly quelled the momentum with a layup only to see freshman Warren Williams (Kingston, Jamaica / St. Benedict's Prep (NJ)) convert a pair of layups to bring Manhattan to within four at 45-41 1:56 to play.

Siena would stretch the lead back out to seven, but the never-say die Jaspers continued to fight and would make it a one-possession game at 48-45 with 38.1 remaining following another Reynolds three. 

Reynolds trims the Siena lead to 48-45 with the transition triple with 38.1 to play in regulation. Now with a game-high matching 18. pic.twitter.com/CZOdiPOp88

— Manhattan Basketball (@JaspersMBB) February 9, 2019

Manhattan would get to within two twice more and had a chance to win the game, only to be denied when Nehemiah Mack's (So., Harrisburg, PA / Massanutten Prep (VA)) halfcourt heave went painfully left.
 
Reynolds led the way with 18 points and nine rebounds while sophomore Ebube Ebube (San Juan, Puerto Rico / Lawrenceville Academy (NJ)) finished with seven points, eight rebounds and two blocks and Williams added nine points to round out the top statistical performers for the Jaspers.

Evan Fisher paced Siena with 18 points and six rebounds while Kadeem Smithen added nine points, eight rebounds and three steals off the bench.

The Saints improve to 12-12 and 7-4 in the MAAC while the Jaspers fall to 7-17 and 5-7 in the league.

Notes
* Manhattan limited Siena to just 15.8 percent shooting (3-of-19) from long range while posting a 35-29 advantage on the glass.

* The Jaspers scored on seven-straight possessions in their comeback, before Mack's final shot attempt.

* Reynolds averaged 16.8 ppg and 6.0 rpg during Manhattan's four-game homestand while shooting 56.1 percent (23-of-41), including 53.8 percent (14-of-26) from deep.

* Stewart had a team-high three assists.

* The Jaspers led 17-16 at the break and shot 40.0 percent (18-of-45) from the floor, including 26.1 percent (6-of-23) from deep.

Up Next
* Manhattan returns to action at Niagara on Friday, February 15 at 7:00 pm.