Fairfield, CT - Playing without the services of reigning MAAC Player of the Week Tykei Greene (Queens, NY / Long Island Lutheran), Manhattan dropped a 68-60 decision to Fairfield at Alumni Hall.
Sophomore Warren Williams (Kingston, Jamaica / St. Benedict's Prep (NJ)) scored a season-high 19 points, on 8-of-10 shooting, while classmate Christian Hinckson (Queens, NY / Tilton School (NH)) added 13 points to lead the way for the Jaspers on offense.
Manhattan is now 6-6 and 2-1 in the MAAC while Fairfield improves to 6-9 and 2-2 in the league.
The Stags opened the game on a 16-2 run, before the Jaspers responded with six of the next eight points to trim the deficit to 10 at 18-8 with 12:06 to play in the first half.
Media (7:13) | Okafor turns defense into offense!
— Manhattan Basketball (@JaspersMBB) January 11, 2020
Fairfield 26 Manhattan 15
Watch on ESPN+: https://t.co/HGEcnuhqWp pic.twitter.com/RMtbgm7h2z
The visitors would continue to battle and cut it to six at the 1:51 mark on an Elijah Buchanan (So., Bronx, NY / Woodstock Academy (CT)) jumper, before heading into the break down just 40-32.
Media (7:13) | Okafor turns defense into offense!
— Manhattan Basketball (@JaspersMBB) January 11, 2020
Fairfield 26 Manhattan 15
Watch on ESPN+: https://t.co/HGEcnuhqWp pic.twitter.com/RMtbgm7h2z
Fairfield began the second half with the first six points in again extending the advantage out to 14 at 46-32 with 17:03 remaining, before the Manhattan offense went to work. Williams scored five-straight points, before senior Tyler Reynolds (Syracuse, NY / Harcum College) drained a triple for eight-quick points to make it a 46-40 game with just over 15 minutes to play.
Media (11:34) | Reynolds drains his second triple of the game as Fairfield leads Manhattan 50-42 at the second controlled stoppage of the second half.
— Manhattan Basketball (@JaspersMBB) January 11, 2020
Watch on ESPN+: https://t.co/HGEcnuhqWp pic.twitter.com/NMLnrRX0WC
After the Stags briefly answered with a pair of jumpers, Manhattan ripped off seven-straight points to make it a one-possession game at 50-47 with 10:15 remaining following Pauly Paulicap's (Sr., Elmont, NY / Harcum College) layup.
Paulicap with the nifty hook as we trail by just five points at 52-47 with 8:21 remaining in regulation.#JasperNation #BronxBuilt
— Manhattan Basketball (@JaspersMBB) January 11, 2020
Watch on ESPN+: https://t.co/HGEcnuhqWp pic.twitter.com/h0skSbkERw
Unfortunately, that was as close as the Jaspers would get over the final 10-plus minutes of action.
Fairfield shot 48.7 percent (19-of-39) from the floor, including 75.0 percent (6-of-8) from deep, and 75.0 percent (24-of-32) from the line and was led by Landon Taliaferro's game-high 24 points.
Manhattan, meanwhile, converted 45.1 percent (23-of-51) from the field, including 30.0 percent (5-of-20) from deep, and 72.7 percent (8-of-11) from the line.
The Jaspers will next be in action against Siena on Sunday, January 12, with opening tip at Draddy Gymnasium slated for 2:00 pm.