Atlantic City, NJ - No. 10 Manhattan dropped a heartbreaking 59-58 overtime decision to No. 7 Fairfield in the opening round of the 2021 MAAC Championship at the Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall.
The Jaspers were able to force overtime when senior Ethan Lasko (Hollywood, FL / Indiana) beat the regulation buzzer to tie it up at 50-50.
Holy #SCTop10!
— Manhattan Basketball (@JaspersMBB) March 10, 2021
Lasko send its to overtime!#BronxBuilt pic.twitter.com/qVULvyOULQ
In the extra session, Fairfield scored the first five points before senior Ebube Ebube (San Juan, Puerto Rico / The Lawrenceville School (NJ)) hit a layup to spark a 6-2 spurt, as junior Samba Diallo (Rufisque, Senegal) hit a layup and a pair from the line to trim the deficit to 57-56 with 1:55 to play.
Diallo with the last four points!
— Manhattan Basketball (@JaspersMBB) March 10, 2021
Fairfield 57 Manhattan 56 with 1:55 to play in the first OT. pic.twitter.com/329trHbt3m
The teams then traded baskets, before the Stags misfired on a pair from the line to give the Jaspers one more chance with 10.1 to play in the game. Unfortunately, Manhattan's final attempt came up painfully short.
Jasper ball!
— Manhattan Basketball (@JaspersMBB) March 10, 2021
Fairfield 59 Manhattan 58 with 10.1 to play in the first overtime!#BronxBuilt pic.twitter.com/LDkgvQpuMA
Junior Ant Nelson (New York, NY / Seton Hall led the way for the Jaspers with his second career double-double, with 16 points, 11 rebounds, three assists and two steals, while Diallo added 11 points and 11 rebounds in earning his first double-double of the season.
Manhattan ends its season with a 7-13 record, while Fairfield improves to 8-16.
Notes
* Diallo has now recorded four career double-doubles, and notched double-figures on the glass for the fourth time this season and the 10th in his career.
Diallo converts the three-point play, as we trail Fairfield 50-47 with 4.4 to play in regulation.#BronxBuilt pic.twitter.com/oBcqpN6MDH
— Manhattan Basketball (@JaspersMBB) March 10, 2021
* Junior Warren Williams (Kingston, Jamaica / St. Benedict's Prep (NJ)) rounded out the double-digit performers for Manhattan with 11 points, while classmate Elijah Buchanan (Bronx, NY / Woodstock Academy (CT)) added nine points, six rebounds, three assists, three blocks and one steal.
Media (2nd-9:51) // Williams scores off the inbounds pass from Stewart!
— Manhattan Basketball (@JaspersMBB) March 10, 2021
Manhattan leads Fairfield 33-32#BronxBuilt pic.twitter.com/Q468IFNhiB
* Williams is now averaging 11.6 ppg and 4.0 rpg while shooting 67.6 percent (23-of-34) over five career MAAC Tournament games.
* Nelson notched double-figures in scoring for the team-best 15th time, while pacing the squad for the sixth time, matching Buchanan and Williams, who each also led the team in scoring on six occasions.
Media (2nd-4:00) // Buckle up we got an exciting finish on the horizon!
— Manhattan Basketball (@JaspersMBB) March 10, 2021
Nelson with the last five Jasper points!
Fairfield 43 Manhattan 42#BronxBuilt pic.twitter.com/1INvJO6Bsh
* Junior Samir Stewart (Fort Lauderdale, FL / American Heritage) handed out a game-high five assists, against just zero turnovers, with five points.
HALF // Stewart caps the scoring for the stanza as Manhattan takes a 25-16 lead into the break.#BronxBuilt pic.twitter.com/qndVGABdLT
— Manhattan Basketball (@JaspersMBB) March 10, 2021
* The Jaspers jumped out to a 25-16 lead at the break thanks to ripping off a 9-0 run early in the stanza, while also limiting the Stags to just 25.0 percent (7-of-28) from the floor for the opening 20 minutes.
Media (2nd-11:46) // Nelson now with five points as Manhattan has opened up a 12-4 lead on Fairfield thanks to ripping off nine-straight points.#BronxBuilt pic.twitter.com/pFbcjbTB7o
— Manhattan Basketball (@JaspersMBB) March 10, 2021
* Manhattan forced 15 miscues that led to a 12-8 margin in points off turnovers.
Media (2nd-15:04) // Defense ?? ?? Offense
— Manhattan Basketball (@JaspersMBB) March 10, 2021
Diallo likes this dunking thing ??!
Manhattan 29 Fairfield 24#BronxBuilt pic.twitter.com/5XZMPEI6IA
* The Jaspers also posted a 44-42 advantage on the glass, including 20-12 on offensive end, that led to a 38-16 margin in the paint.
Media (7:37-1st) // Manhattan 17 Fairfield 10
— Manhattan Basketball (@JaspersMBB) March 10, 2021
The big man gets on the board after dropping 20 in the last time out vs. Fairfield.#BronxBuilt pic.twitter.com/5sDHHKu8H5
* Jesus Cruz scored 16 points, while Jake Wojcik added 15 to pace Fairfield.