Box Score (PDF)Â | Highlights
Jersey City, NJ - Manhattan trimmed a late 11-point deficit to one late in regulation, but was unable to get any closer in dropping a hard-fought 59-55 decision against Saint Peter's at the Moore Center.
Trailing 56-45 with 2:39 to play in regulation, the Jaspers started chipping away with three free throws, before junior
Ant Nelson (New York, NY / Seton Hall) hit a runner and classmate
Warren Williams (Kingston, Jamaica / St. Benedict's Prep (NJ)) a layup to draw withing four at 56-52 with less than a minute remaining. After a defensive stand, junior
Samir Stewart (Fort Lauderdale, FL / American Heritage) drained a corner triple to make it a one-possession game with 17.8 to play.
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Unfortunately, the Peacocks made three-straight at the line to hold off the Green & White and take the first of this weekend's two games.
In defeat, Manhattan falls to 5-5 and 4-5 in the MAAC, while Saint Peter's improves to 8-6 and 5-4 in the league.
Williams scored a team-best 13 points with six rebounds, while Nelson added 11 points and Stewart 10 points with four assists and three steals to round out the double-figure performers for the Jaspers.Â
Notes
*Â The Green & White opened up a 24-21 lead at the break thanks to forcing Saint Peter's into 12 first-half turnovers. Â
* Manhattan assumed the early advantage thanks to ripping off eight-straight points midway through the first half on back-to-back triples from Stewart and junior
Jason Douglas-Stanley (Mount Vernon, NY / George Mason), and a jumper from Williams.
* The Jaspers also registered an 8-0 run midway through the second.
* Over his last six games, Williams is averaging 10.8 ppg, 8.7 rpg and 2.2 bpg.
* Nelson, who scored all 11 of his points after halftime, reached double-figures in scoring for the team-best eighth time.
* Junior
Elijah Buchanan (Bronx, NY / Woodstock Academy (CT)) paced the Green & White on the glass with eight rebounds, while chipping in with nine points, four assists, two steals and one block.Â
* Over his last four games against Saint Peter's, Buchanan is averaging 10.8 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.5 apg and 1.5 spg while shooting 51.5 percent (17-of-33) during that time.
* Manhattan forced 19 miscues, including the aforementioned 12 in the first half, that led to a 15-8 advantage in points off turnovers.
* The Jaspers also forced the Peacocks into two shot clock violations, one backcourt violation and two offensive fouls.
* Matthew Lee scored a game-high 15 points to lead Saint Peter's, while KC Ndefo recorded seven rebounds and six blocks to pace Saint Peter's.
Up Next
* The teams will conclude their series tomorrow at 8:00 pm, with all the action to be streamed on
ESPN3.
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