RIVERDALE, N.Y. – The regular season's penultimate weekend features games against Marist and Quinnipiac for the Manhattan men's basketball team.
The Jaspers welcome the Red Foxes to Draddy on Friday night (7 p.m.) for Military Appreciation Night before heading to Quinnipiac on Sunday (2 p.m.).
Manhattan held on at Fairfield for a 73-72 win on Sunday. It was the Jaspers' eighth MAAC win of the year, which equals last year's total. The win moves Manhattan within half of a game of fifth in the MAAC standings. The fifth spot is the last spot that receives a bye in the MAAC Tournament in Atlantic City. Manhattan survived a crazy final sequence that saw Fairfield attempt five free throws with less than one-second remaining. The Stags had a chance to tie the game and force overtime with the free throws.
Ant Nelson finished with a game-high 24 points and added five assists against no turnovers. Also in double figures for Manhattan was
Marques Watson with 12 points. Watson added three assists.
The Red Foxes are coming off a win against Niagara, 61-52, on Sunday. The victory ended a three-game losing streak for Marist. Marist sits at 9-17, 5-12 on the year. The Red Foxes sit T10 in the MAAC standings, with Canisius at 5-12. Patrick Gardner leads the offense for the Red Foxes at 18.5 points per game. The redshirt senior passed 2,000 career points in the win against Niagara. Noah Harris is one of four other Red Foxes averaging at least seven points per game.
Quinnipiac is idle on Friday night before welcoming the Jaspers to Hamden. The Bobcats have won two in a row and sit at 19-9 overall and 10-7 in MAAC play. Quinnipiac is 9-3 at home this season, which is tied with Iona for the most wins at home in the MAAC. Four Bobcats average 10-plus points a night. Dezi Jones leads the squad at 12.0 points per game. Paul Otieno grabs seven rebounds a game to lead the Bobcats.
Manhattan picked up its first season sweep on Sunday with its win over Fairfield. The Jaspers eye their second season sweep on Friday night against Marist.
The Jaspers tallied 42 points in the paint on Sunday against the Stags. It was the fourth time this season that Manhattan eclipsed 40 inside the paint.
Nelson recorded his eighth 20-point game on Sunday. Nelson is fifth in the MAAC with his eight 20-point games.
For the latest on the Manhattan College men's basketball program, follow the Jaspers on Twitter @JaspersMBB and Instagram @Jaspers.MBB.
