RIVERDALE, NY — Manhattan men's basketball couldn't overcome a pair of big second-half scoring runs by the visiting Quinnipiac Bobcats in a 74-71 loss on Sunday afternoon at Draddy Gymnasium. Manhattan led for 37:48 of game time—including holding a 15-point lead at halftime—before a three-pointer from Khaden Bennett with 40 seconds left completed the Quinnipiac comeback.
HOW IT HAPPENED
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Manhattan fed the hot hand of Wesley Robinson early as the senior forward poured in the Jaspers' first 8 points to take an early six-point lead.
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A 9-2 scoring run capped by a jumper from Will Sydnor staked out a 20-8 lead for Manhattan with 12:29 left in the first half.
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Manhattan led by as much as 17 in the closing minutes of the half before going into halftime with a 38-23 advantage.
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Even as the points started to come for the visitors, Manhattan maintained a 52-39 lead with 11:41 left following a finish inside for Masiah Gilyard and a three-pointer from Devin Dinkins.
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Quinnipiac marched right back into the game with a momentum-swinging 8-0 run culminating in back-to-back rack attacks and dunks from Jaden Zimmerman and MAAC Preseason Player of the Year Amarri Monroe.
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Gilyard continued his heroics inside, coming up with a tip-in on a missed jumper from Robinson before adding another basket that stretched the Manhattan lead back to 9 with 4:38 left.
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Quinnipiac had the final run, scoring 10 unanswered to take a one-point lead with 2:56 left.
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After a contested three from Sydnor put Manhattan back up 2 with 2:13 left, Bennett began to play the role of spoiler by draining a three of his own to retake the lead for Quinnipiac.
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A step-back jumper from Dinkins gave Manhattan its last lead at 68-67, setting the stage for Bennett's clutch three in the final minute of regulation to put the Bobcats over the top.
STATS AND NOTES
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Robinson (18 points), Dinkins (17), Gilyard (16) and Sydnor (12) were the double-digit scorers for Manhattan.
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For the first time this season, Manhattan tried a new starting line-up, with Dinkins taking Sydnor's spot in the starting five.
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For the second straight game, Manhattan had to try to break through in the final minute. On Sunday afternoon, with the Jaspers trailing by two, Dinkins' driving lay-up missed with 26 seconds left on the clock, and Quinnipiac put the game out of reach from the free throw line.
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Manhattan finished 12-24 from behind the arc, and were 7-12 from long range in the first half.
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Robinson's 4 threes matched a D1-career best for the stretch forward.
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Dinkins matched a career-high 6 assists.
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Manhattan was -7 on the boards, including -5 on the offensive glass.
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All 8 of Manhattan's MAAC losses have been decided by single digits. 4 of the 8 were decided by 5 points or less.
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With the loss, Manhattan is tied with Sacred Heart for sixth place at 8-8. Quinnipiac is tied with Marist at the top of the standings at 13-3.
QUOTES FROM MANHATTANManhattan head coach John Gallagher on playing two close games this weekend before falling short: "18 days from today we'll be in the tournament. 21 days from today is Selection Sunday. If you take this weekend and treat it the right way, we can be that team. That's how much I believe in this group."
Gallagher on Fraser Roxburgh's return to the line-up at Iona and vs. Quinnipiac: "Fraser looked great. We have to get him up to 20 minutes next weekend and then 24 to 25 before the tournament starts."
NEXT TIME OUT
Manhattan will make the Buffalo swing for the first time in 397 days, facing off with Canisius (3-24, 3-13 MAAC) on Friday night at 7 PM. The action from the Koessler Athletic Center will be available for live viewing on ESPN+.
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