RIVERDALE, N.Y. – Manhattan welcomes Canisius and Niagara to Draddy Gymnasium this weekend. The Jaspers will play the Golden Griffins on Friday night at 7 p.m. before entertaining the Purple Eagles on Sunday at 2 p.m.
Manhattan is coming off an 84-65 loss to Quinnipiac on Sunday. Quinnipiac hit 13 3-pointers and shot over 50-percent from the field in the win.
Ant Nelson had 20 points to lead Manhattan.
Nick Brennen posted a career-high 18 for the Jaspers. Nelson's 20 points against Quinnipiac gave the guard four games of 20-plus points this season and three in the last four games.
The Golden Griffins enter Friday on a nine-game losing streak. Canisius is 2-11 overall and 0-4 in MAAC play. Canisius also hasn't won on the road yet. The last three losses were by a total of nine points. Jordan Henderson paces the offense for Canisius at 13.5 points per game. Tahj Staveskie and Jamir Moultrie also average over 10 points. Siem Uijtendaal scored 30 points against Fredonia earlier this season, which is the third-highest-scoring game by a MAAC player this season.
The Purple Eagles have won three straight and will put their 8-5 overall and 3-1 MAAC record on the line on Friday night at Fairfield before playing the Jaspers. The three wins have come against Binghamton (73-67), Mount St. Mary's (67-55), and Rider (61-59). Noah Thomasson averages 17.8 per game, which leads the MAAC. The Houston, Texas native also grabs 3.4 rebounds and assists per game. Aaron Gray is second on the team in scoring at 11.8 per game.
The Jaspers are 57-40 all-time against Canisius. Single digits decided both meetings last season, and less than 10 points have decided the previous seven meetings. Manhattan leads the series against Niagara 58-35. Niagara has won the last two, but Manhattan is 7-3 in the previous 10 meetings.
