Bronx Insider: Sports Desk: Manhattan College Jaspers Basketball.

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Manhattan Edged in Overtime at Niagara.

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – Niagara came back to force overtime before topping Manhattan in the extra session, 80-74 on Friday night.

Niagara (10-11, 5-7 MAAC) closed the game on a 10-1 run to sweep Manhattan (11-8, 4-6) this season.

Jose Perez had a career- and game-high 38 points for the Jaspers while four were in double figures for the Purple Eagles. Marcus Hammond and Noah Thomasson led the home side with 20 points each.

It was Hammond’s 3-pointer with five seconds left that tied the game at 70 and forced the extra session. Perez hit two free throws with 25 seconds to play to put the Jaspers up by three.

In the overtime period, Perez connected on a 3-pointer to open the frame. That would be the final field goal of the game.

 
Manhattan built its largest lead of the game in the second half. A 12-4 run spanning 6:11 lengthened the lead to 64-55 with 5:15 remaining. Niagara responded with a 15-6 run over the remainder of regulation. 

The Purple Eagles hit three 3-points and limited the Jaspers to one field goal.

Perez added five rebounds and a pair of assists to his career-high 38. Elijah Buchanan also finished in double figures with 10 points for Manhattan. Romar Reid had four points, five rebounds, and a season-high six assists.

The Jaspers remain in Western New York with a game at Canisius on Sunday. The tip between the Golden Griffins and the Jaspers is at 1 p.m. on ESPN3.