Box Score (PDF)
Niagara University, NY – Fueled by a strong first half, Manhattan powered past Niagara by a 67-62 count at the Gallagher Center.
With their second win of the weekend, the Jaspers swept the annual Western New York swing for the second-straight year in moving to 6-5 and 2-0 in the MAAC, as the Purple Eagles fall to 3-10 and 1-1 in the league.
Trailing by three in the final two-plus minutes, Niagara was denied on four straight possessions, before Manhattan put the game away at the line.
Sophomores
Samir Stewart (Fort Lauderdale, FL / American Heritage) and
Tykei Greene (Queens, NY / Long Island Lutheran) each drained a pair of free throws over the final 16 seconds to cement the victory.
Greene scored 16 of his game-high 21 points in the first half, while adding five rebounds, two steals and a block. Senior
Pauly Paulicap (Elmont, NY / Harcum College) was a monster down low, registering a season-high 16 points with seven rebounds, while classmate
Tyler Reynolds (Syracuse, NY / Harcum College) rounded out the double-digit performers with 11 points.
The Jaspers took control of the game with a decisive 20-6 run midway through the first half, as Manhattan made good on seven-of-eight from the floor in just over six minutes of action.
Tied at 13-13 with less than nine minutes to play in the first, sophomore
Warren Williams (Kingston, Jamaica / St. Benedict's Prep (NJ)) broke the deadlock with a turnaround jumper to ignite the run. Senior
Pauly Paulicap (Elmont, NY / Harcum College) delivered a pair of rim-rattling dunks, while Greene hit for eight points, including back-to-back three pointers to give the visitors a 14-point advantage at the 2:44 mark, before heading into intermission up 35-23.
The Green & White converted on 42.9 percent (12-of-28) in the opening half, including 38.5 percent (5-of-13) from deep, while posting a decisive 23-16 advantage on the glass.
Niagara scored the first eight points of the second half, before Paulicap restored order with a three-point play and a lay-up as the lead slowly climbed back out to 14 at 57-43 with just over 10 minutes remaining following a Greene three pointer.
The Purple Eagles would again battle back, scoring 12-straight points to make it a one-point game at 59-58 with 5:10 remaining. However, as was the case at the start of the stanza, Paulicap hit a pair of layups to extend the advantage out to 63-58 with 3:39 remaining.
Manhattan was able to secure the win down the stretch thanks to limiting Niagara to just 1-for-6 shooting over the final three-plus minutes of action.
The Jaspers registered a 41-34 advantage on the glass and shot 40.4 percent (23-of-57) from the field, including 39.1 percent (9-of-23) from deep.
Greg Kuakumensah paced the Purple Eagles with 13 points and 10 rebounds, while Marcus Hammond and Nick MacDonald each added 11 points.
Notes
* Manhattan is now 2-0 for the second time in three years and fourth time under Head Coach
Steve Masiello.
* Greene is averaging 19.7 ppg and 5.3 rpg over his last three games while shooting 50.0 percent (19-of-38) from the floor, including 71.4 percent (10-of-14) from deep.
* Paulicap, meanwhile, checks in with 12.0 ppg and 7.2 rpg while shooting 54.3 percent (25-of-46) from the floor.
* The Jaspers lead the all-time series by a 55-33 count, including going 12-5 under Masiello.
* Manhattan has now posted back-to-back sweeps of the Western New York trip for the third time in program history and the first since the back-to-back MAAC Championship seasons of 2002-03 and 2003-04.
* The Jaspers had a season-high 18 assists, with junior
Nehemiah Mack (Harrisburg, PA / Massanutten Prep (VA)) handing out five, against one turnover, and Stewart four over 35 turnover-free minutes.
* Manhattan topped the 40-rebound mark for the fourth time this year, after failing to do once a year ago.
* The Jaspers are now 5-2 in games decided by 10 points or less, including 4-1 in games decided by five points or less.
* Sophomore
Christian Hinckson (Queens, NY / Tilton School (NH)) had four points, five rebounds, two assists and one huge steal off the bench.
Up Next
* Manhattan will look to make it three in a row at Fairfield on Friday, January 10.
