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Atlantic City, NJ - No. 10 Manhattan (7-12) will meet Fairfield (7-16) in the first round of the MAAC Championship for third-straight season on Tuesday, March 9 at 7:30 pm.
MAAC Championship Notes
* The Jaspers have defeated the Stags in the opening round in each of the last two years, thanks to limiting Fairfield to just 48.0 ppg.
* Additionally, the teams will meet for the 12th time in MAAC Championship play with the Stags holding a scant 6-5 edge.
* With Tuesday's game, Manhattan will have played Fairfield more than any other MAAC school in program history, as the Jaspers have also squared off with Siena and Saint Peter's 11 times.
* Manhattan is 0-2, all-time, as the No. 10 seed (2011 & 1999).
* The Jaspers are 29-34 with five MAAC titles in championship play.
* Head Coach
Steve Masiello has a school-record 11 MAAC Championship wins, with a school-record 61.1 winning percentage and two titles over nine previous trips to the conference tournament.
* Counting his time as an assistant, Masiello has been associated with four of the Jaspers' five titles and 16 of their 29 conference tournament victories.
* He is also a perfect 3-0 in tournament play against Fairfield, and 3-1 in first round games.
* Over four MAAC Tournament games Williamms is registering 11.8 ppg on 64.3 percent (18-of-28) shooting.
Nelson, Williams Earn All-MAAC Honors
* Juniors
Ant Nelson and
Warren Williams were each named to the All-MAAC Third Team after outstanding seasons.
* Nelson exploded onto the scene for Manhattan, pacing the Jaspers while ranking among the MAAC leaders in both scoring (13.3 ppg-7th), assists (3.2 apg-6th) and free throw percentage (.780-9th).
* The Seton Hall transfer was Manhattan's most consistent offense threat, hitting for double-figures a team-best 14 times, including registering at least 20 on three occasions.
* He earned MAAC Player of the Week honors for the week ending December 13, after averaging 23.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg and 3.0 apg while shooting 71.4 percent from the floor, including 85.7 percent from long range, and a perfect 100.0 percent from the line over two games against Rider.
* Nelson scored 19 points in the opener, before notching 27 points with six rebounds and four assists in the finale.
* He matched his career-high with 27 points in the finale at Siena to go along with a season-high matching six assists, registered his first career double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds in the opener at Quinnipiac and also had 23 points in the finale against Marist.
* Williams broke out this past season in a big way, and ranks among the MAAC leaders in scoring (11.5 ppg-20th), rebounding (7.5 rpg-2nd) and blocks (1.7 bpg-5th), double-doubles (5-2nd) and double-digit rebounding performances (7-2nd).
* He ended the regular season on a high note with 20 points in the finale against the Stags, en route to averaging 16.0 ppg, on 81.3 percent shooting (13-of-16) for the weekend.
* Williams, who also scored in double-figures 13 times, was dominant against Monmouth, hitting for 20 points with nine rebounds in the finale en route to averaging 18.0 ppg and 9.5 rpg, while shooting a blistering 70.0 percent (14-of-20) from the field.
* With the selections, Masiello has now mentored 15 All-MAAC performers during his time in Riverdale.
Getting Defensive
* In Manhattan's win over Fairfield this past Thursday, the Jaspers registered 13 steals, forced 22 turnovers and limited the Stags to just 59 points.
* In Masiello's 10 years at the helm, the Jaspers are 63-12 (.850) when holding the opposition to less than 60 points, 48-18 (.727) when registering double-digits in steals and 29-17 (.630) when forcing at least 20 miscues
* The Green & White turned Marist over at least 20 times in each match-up, doing so in back in back-to-back games for the time since the 2018-19 season (UNC Asheville, GW).
* Manhattan leads the MAAC and is 38th nationally with a league-best 12.3 offensive rebounds per game, while also ranking among the NCAA leaders in forced turnovers (15.6/game-40th), steals (7.6 spg-58th) and scoring defense (67.7 ppg-98th).
* Fueled by their stellar defense, the Jaspers are 5-1 when limiting teams to less than 60 points, highlighted by holding the Purple Eagles to less than 60 points in each victory.
Player Quick Hits
* Buchanan was named MAAC Player of the Week after averaging 20.5 ppg, 9.0 rpg and 5.0 apg, 3.0 spg and 1.5 bpg over two games vs. Iona.
* In Manhattan's 77-70 win over the Gaels in the finale, Buchanan notched career-highs with 26 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists.
* Williams also registered his fifth double-double of the year with 12 points and 10 rebounds in the finale at Iona, marking the first time a pair of Jaspers did so in the same game since February 2, 2018 at Siena.
* Buchanan and Nelson each reached the 20-point mark in the win over Rider, marking the first time the Jaspers had two 20-point scorers in the same game since Zavier Turner and Rich Williams did so in a 92-86 double-overtime win vs. Quinnipiac on February 25, 2018.
* Buchanan has established himself as one of the top all-around players in the league, ranking among the MAAC leaders in scoring (11.7 ppg-19th), rebounding (6.2 rpg-11th), steals (1.8 spg-2nd), blocks (1.2 bpg-7th), assist/to ratio (1.3-14th), free throw % (.704-15th) and minutes (32.5 mpg-11th).
* Junior
Samba Diallo a UMass transfer, scored a season-high 14 points with eight rebounds in the opener at Iona, before going for 10 points with nine rebounds in the opener at Siena, and is averaging 9.4 ppg and 5.9 rpg while shooting 52.5 percent (21-of-40) from the floor and 81.5 percent (22-of-27) from the line over his last seven games.
* He snared a season-high 11 rebounds in the finale at Saint Peter's, after grabbing 10 in the series-finale win over Niagara and 10 on his birthday in the finale vs. Monmouth.
* Diallo has notched double-figures on the glass three times and nine in his career, while ranking among the MAAC leaders on the glass (5.5 rpg-20th) and steals (1.2 spg-11th).
* Junior
Samir Stewart scored a season-high 18 points in the finale at Saint Peter's, and matched his career-high with five three pointers in the finale against the Peacocks.
* Stewart ranks fifth in the MAAC in steals (1.5 spg) and fourth in assist/turnover ratio (1.9), and is averaging 8.8 ppg while draining at least two triples 10 times en route to converting on 31.5 percent (29-of-92) from deep.
* The Jaspers' five junior transfers (
Nick Brennen, Diallo,
Jason Douglas-Stanley, Nelson and
Marques Watson) are averaging 29.8 ppg and 14.5 rpg, while accounting for 46.8 percent of the team's scoring and 40.6 percent of the rebounding.
Manhattan-Fairfield Player Notes
* Following his big weekend against Fairfield, Williams is now averaging 11.0 ppg, on 66.7 percent shooting (34-of-51), over eight career games vs. Fairfield.
* Nelson averaged 10.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 4.0 apg and 2.5 spg against the Stags, while Buchanan (10.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 2.0 spg) and Diallo (9.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg) posted impressive numbers against the Connecticut-based school.
* Two years ago, senior
Ebube Ebube scored a career-high 20 points at Fairfield en route to averaging 14.0 ppg and 6.3 rpg over three games against the Stags for the year.
* Brennen averaged 5.0 ppg and 4.0 rpg against Fairfield, while sophomore
Romar Reid scored a career-high eight points in the opener and senior
Ethan Lasko chipped in with six.
Trending Up
* Over his last eight games, Williams is averaging 14.4 ppg and 7.6 rpg while shooting 61.3 percent (46-of-75) from the field.
* Nelson is averaging 12.8 ppg, 3.9 apg, 3.0 rpg and 1.5 spg over his last eight games.
* Over his last seven games, Buchanan is averaging 14.0 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.7 spg and 1.0.
* Stewart is averaging 9.8 ppg, 2.0 apg and 1.4 spg, while making good on 40.0 percent (10-of-25) from long range, over his last five games.
* In his last seven games, Diallo is averaging 9.4 ppg and 5.9 rpg, while making good on 52.5 percent (21-of-40) from the floor, and 81.5 percent (22-of-27) from the line.
Scouting Fairfield
* Richmond transfer Jake Wojcik paces the Stags in scoring at 13.6 ppg, while Taj Benning is also averaging in double-digits at 12.0 ppg, to pace an offense that is averaging a league-low 62.0 ppg.
* Fairfield, like Manhattan, is extremely successful when holding teams to less than 60 point, as the Stags are 5-0 when keeping teams from hitting the 60-point threshold.
* The Stags also lean heavily on Holy Cross transfer Caleb Green (8.3 ppg, 2.9 apg) and Jesus Cruz (8.4 ppg, 3.5 rpg).
Head Coach Steve Masiello
* Masiello is in his 25th season as a player, assistant or a head coach, and is one of just nine active Division I coaches with a National Title as a player, and one of seven that is 43 or younger with two conference titles and two trips to the NCAA Tourney.
* Masiello has led the Jaspers to a 147-161 (.477) record, including going 94-96 (.495) during MAAC play, while adding a school-record 11 MAAC Tournament wins. At Draddy Gym, he is 72-50 (.590), including 57-38 (.600) vs. league opposition. He has won two MAAC Championships, advanced to the title game three times and claimed two Metropolitan Coach of the Year awards with a pair of 20-win campaigns. Masiello has also participated in the NCAA Tourney in 13 of his 24 full seasons as a player or coach, including being a part of eight conference champions and one National Title.
* Masiello has a career collegiate record of 508-307 (.623), including 387-279 (.581) on the sidelines, with one National Title, two National Championship Game appearances, two Final Fours, six Elite Eight berths, eight conference championships, 13 NCAA Tournament appearances and 15 20-win seasons.
* In his first tenure as an assistant, Masiello was a part of two MAAC titles and three 20-plus win seasons. All told, Masiello has been a member of four of Manhattan's five MAAC Championship teams and five of the school's 12 20-win seasons in recording a combined 230-197 (.539) record.
Meet The Staff
* Masiello is joined on the bench by
Matt Grady,
RaShawn Stores,
Doug Thibault,
Jon Mangel and
Tyler Wilson. Grady is in his 10th year, Stores his fifth, Thibault his third, Mangel his second and Wilson his fourth.
Last Year
* Last season, Manhattan again ranked among the NCAA leaders in scoring defense (64.2 ppg-40th), turnovers forced (14.9-60th), blocks (4.0 bpg-76th), offensive rebounds (11.1-82nd), steals (7.0 spg-99th) and field goal percentage defense (.418-107th).
* Manhattan turned Quinnipiac and Delaware State each over 25 times last year, while also matching the most forced turnovers by a Masiello-coached team.
* The Jaspers also overcome second half double-digit deficits in victories over UAlbany, at Elon and at Fordham.
What Is A Jasper?
The unique nickname of Manhattan College's athletic teams, the Jaspers, comes from one of the College's most memorable figures, Brother Jasper of Mary, F.S.C., who served as the College's athletic director in the late 19th century. One of the greatest achievements of Brother Jasper was that he brought the then little-known sport of baseball to Manhattan College and became the team's first coach. Since Brother Jasper was also the Prefect of Discipline, he supervised the student fans at Manhattan baseball games while also directing the team itself. During one particularly warm and humid day when the college was playing a semi-pro baseball team called the Metropolitans, Brother Jasper noticed the Manhattan students were becoming restless and edgy with the team coming to bat in the seventh inning of a close game. To relieve the tension, Brother Jasper called timeout and told the students to stand up and stretch for a few minutes until the game resumed. Since the College annually played the New York Giants in the late 1880's and into the 1890's at the old Polo Grounds, the Manhattan College practice of the "seventh inning stretch" spread into the major leagues, where it has now become a time-honored custom practiced by millions of fans annually.
This Is Manhattan College
* Why is Manhattan College in the Bronx? Our campus was originally located in Manhattan at the intersection of 131st Street and Broadway. In 1923, Manhattan College moved to its present Riverdale location in order to accommodate a growing student body. But with more than 60 years of history established as Manhattan College, the institution decided to retain the name despite the geographic misnomer.
* 17 alumni are members of the prestigious National Academy of Engineering — an impressive number for an institution the size of Manhattan College.
* Manhattan is one of only 182 remaining colleges founded in the United States before the Civil War.
This Is Manhattan Basketball
* Manhattan has three wins in NCAA Tournament play, defeating West Virginia (1958), Oklahoma (1995) and Florida (2004).
* The Jaspers have won five MAAC Tournament titles in the last 25 years (1993, 2003, 2004, 2014, 2015).
* Manhattan received an at-large berth in 1995 and defeated Oklahoma before falling to Arizona State.
* Was the first team in NCAA history to a win a game in Europe, defeating Holy Cross 70-54 on December 1, 2017 as part of the inaugural Belfast Classic.
Up Next
* With a win, the Jaspers would play No. 2 Monmouth on Wednesday, March 9 at 7:30 pm.
