HACKENSACK, N.J. — Manhattan was subject to hot shooting early from FDU, thus spiraling the Jaspers into a 17-point deficit with 6:49 left in the opening half. After working hard to dig themselves out and taking as much a seven-point lead with over five minutes to go in regulation, Manhattan got bested late, falling behind on a goaltend interference with 21 seconds left to which FDU held on for an 85-82 win at Bogota Savings Bank Center.
HOW IT HAPPENED
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FDU blitzed early by making its first six three-point attempts on the afternoon to open up a 26-12 lead at 13:17.
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With Manhattan down 28-15 following a lay-up from FDU's Brayden Reynolds, Jaden Winston answered with a much-needed three which was Manhattan's first of the day.
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FDU wouldn't blink, launching an 11-4 run to open their biggest lead of the day at 39-22. Josiah Francis added the first 5 points of the Knights' run on a three-pointer and a finish inside.
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Sydnor contributed two late threes in the first half to close within 9 at 46-37. Manhattan's final field goal of the first half came on a confident jump-shot from Dinkins at 1:10.
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Brown had the last word of the first half with a mid-range finish that sent the Knights into halftime with a 52-39 lead.
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Manhattan had the good graces of the basketball gods turn to its favors early in the second half, shooting 51 percent (15-29) from the field and 58 (7-12) percent from three.
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After facing three more 10-point deficits, Fraser Roxburgh took matters into his own hands. The crafty freshman swingman from Australia scored eight straight off two threes and a soft finish off the glass to put the Jaspers to within four at 67-63.
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Manhattan wouldn't stop there, depositing two more baskets from Shaquil Bender and Alijah Curry to tie the game at 67 before a strong move by Sydnor, plus the foul, gave the Jaspers a 70-67 lead with 7:53 left.
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Manhattan went 30:41 in game time without leading before Sydnor's and-one. Manhattan's previous lead came at 4-2.
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Dinkins' second three of the day opened up Manhattan's largest lead of the game at 76-69. But FDU simply wouldn't go away, using a basket from Cameron Tweedy and a clutch three from Ahmed Barba-Bey tyo cut the Jaspers lead to 78-74 with 4:21 left.
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FDU proceeded to connect on their last five field goal attempts—including a three-pointer from Brown—culminating with an interference call on Syndor's block attempt on Brown's fast break lay-up attempt with 21 seconds left.
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Manhattan would misfire on their last two attempts in crunch time to fall just short.
STATS AND NOTES
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Sydnor's impressive start to his Jaspers career continued with another 20-plus point outing at FDU. The freshman from the Bronx lit up Bogota Savings Bank Center on Sunday afternoon with 22 points on 9-17 shooting including 3-7 from deep. Sydnor has shot a blistering 58 percent (18-31 FG)—including 5-12 from long range—over his past two games. Sydnor has at least five rebounds in every game this season, which includes corralling a season-high 11 in the 88-71 win over Mercy on Tuesday.
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Bender had a career-high six assists in Sunday's loss. The offensive-minded guard out of Philadelphia also had 11 points and six rebounds at FDU.
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Manhattan shot 12-23 from three-point range. The Jaspers only had two games last season in which they hit at least 12 threes (13-34 at Monmouth, 12-34 vs. Fairfield). That accounts for only 6 percent of Manhattan's games a season ago.
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Preseason All-MAAC Third Team recipient Jaden Winston posted a season-high 14 points on 3-4 shooting from three. During his rookie campaign last season, Winston had three such games with a trio of three-pointers.
NEXT TIME OUT
Manhattan will look to regroup when it welcomes Army (2-2, 0-0 Patriot) to Draddy Gym next Friday, Nov. 22. Tip-off is slated for 7 PM on ESPN+.
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