Bronx Insider: Sports Desk: Manhattan Men's Basketball Falls at Saint Peter's.

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jaspers Drop Road Decision to Saint Peter's.

JERSEY CITY, N.J. – Manhattan dropped a 67-57 road decision to Saint Peter's on Friday afternoon. The Peacocks outscored the Jaspers 30-15 from behind the 3-point line.
 
"Saint Peter's is a tough physical team. They made the game very scrappy," said interim head coach RaShawn Stores postgame. "We must do a better job of handling that, and we cannot let our offense dictate how we defend."
 
Manhattan (4-8, 2-1 MAAC) and Saint Peter's (7-6, 2-2 MAAC) shot similarly from the floor, but the Peacocks hit 10 3-pointers compared to the Jaspers' five. Eight of those 10 3-pointers for the Peacocks came in the first half.
 
Manhattan shot a better percentage in the first half, but Saint Peter's made five more shots than the Jaspers, including seven more 3-pointers. The Peacocks led 34-22 after the first 20 minutes.
 
After trailing by as many as 20 in the second half, the Jaspers cut the deficit to 11 with four minutes to play, 61-50. Manhattan did get to within 10 inside the final minute but did not get any closer. Once the Peacocks took the 20-point lead with 6:50 to play, the Jaspers scored 16 of the last 22 points. Raziel Hayun had six during the stretch.
 
Samir Stewart finished 11 points to lead the Jaspers. Josh Roberts was also in double figures with 10. Hayun finished with eight. Adam Cisse equaled his career-high with 11 rebounds.
 
Manhattan attempted 25 free throws but only made 14 and only allowed Saint Peter's to shoot nine. Daniel Schreier made his first appearance as a Jasper since Feb. 24, 2019.
 
The Jaspers return to action on New Year's Day at 4 p.m. inside Draddy Gymnasium against Quinnipiac. Tickets for Sunday's game can be purchased here.  
 
For the latest on the Manhattan College men's basketball program, follow the Jaspers on Twitter @JaspersMBB and Instagram @Jaspers.MBB.

Bronx Insider: Sports Desk: Manhattan Men's Basketball Adds Two to 2022-23 Roster.

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Men's Basketball Adds Jewell & Johnson Jr. to 2022-23 Roster.

RIVERDALE, N.Y. – Interim head coach RaShawn Stores and the men’s basketball program announced the additions of James Jewell and Tony Johnson Jr. to the program.
 
“We’re excited about the additions of James and Tony,” said Stores. “We feel that with the addition of these two young men, we’ve improved the talent level in our program and added two great human beings.”
 
Jewell is a freshman from Louisville and joins the Jaspers after playing last season at Southern California Academy. Jewell also played for Eastern High School and Marion County in Kentucky before going to California. Jewell was a two-time Kentucky All-Star, three-time all-region, and all-district selection. The 6-6 forward plans to major in journalism at Manhattan.
 
“James is a 6-6 combo forward with a lot of potential and great versatility. He can guard multiple positions. His skill set and character make him a great addition to our Jasper family now and in the future,” noted Stores of Jewell.
 
Johnson Jr. spent the last three seasons at UCF and will have two seasons of eligibility left with Manhattan. The guard appeared in 25 games in three seasons for the Knights. The Alabama native scored a career-high 21 points against Cincinnati on Feb. 19, 2020. Johnson Jr. played a prep season at The Skill Academy (Ga.) after playing at Eufaula (Ala.), and as a senior, he averaged 24 points, six rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game.
 
“Tony is a veteran guard who has played multiple seasons in the American Athletic Conference. He is someone who not only brings a wealth of experience and skills, but he brings great character and hunger, which every coach in the country wants in their student-athletes,” said Stores of Johnson Jr.
 
The Jaspers return to action on Friday at Saint Peter’s for a 2 p.m. contest on ESPN+.
 
For the latest on the Manhattan College men's basketball program, follow the Jaspers on Twitter @JaspersMBB and Instagram @Jaspers.MBB.

Bronx Insider: Sports Desk: Manhattan Men's Basketball Wins at Marist; Moves to 2-0 in MAAC Play.

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jaspers Win at Marist; Move to 2-0 in MAAC Play.

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – Manhattan hit 14 3-pointers to move to 2-0 in MAAC play with an 80-69 win at Marist on Monday night.

“I am so proud of these young men,” said interim head coach RaShawn Stores. “We stuck to the process tonight. Tonight was the next man up. From Adam Cisse and Matthew Glassman to Raziel Hayun.”

Manhattan (4-7, 2-0 MAAC) went 14-26 from 3-point range. The 14 makes were one off the single-game program record. The win also snaps a four-game losing streak for the Jaspers.

Stores added, “I want these guys to shoot with confidence. They are not taking good shots. They are taking great shots. It is about one more [pass] from going from a good to [a] great [shot].”

Samir Stewart hit six triples for the Jaspers. Ant Nelson supplied three and four other Jaspers connected from behind the arc.

Offensively, the Jaspers were clicking from the start. Manhattan shot 50-percent from the floor in the first half, then improved to 57-percent over the second 20 minutes. The Jaspers shot over 50-percent from 3-point range in both halves, including 58-percent in the second half. No Manhattan player who attempted a shot missed more than four.

Manhattan went on a 10-0 run to lead 13-5 at the under-16 media timeout and did not relinquish the lead again. The lead would grow to as many as 16 in the first half when Marques Watson hit a pair of free throws to make it 25-9.

The Jaspers led 41-28 at the break before Marist (4-6, 0-1) would chip away in the middle stages of the second half. The Red Foxes cut the lead to seven multiple times in the second half. Nelson or Stewart would answer with a bucket to extend the Jasper lead back to nine or 10 each time.

Nelson finished the night with a season- and game-high 22 points. Stewart tallied 20 points. Nick Brennen was the third Jasper in double figures with a season-best 15. Adam Cisse made his fourth straight start, grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds, and added eight points.

Noah Harris led Marist with 14 points on 4-6 shooting.

December 30 is when the Jaspers return to action. Manhattan visits Saint Peter’s for a 2 p.m. tip in Jersey City, N.J.

For the latest on the Manhattan College men's basketball program, follow the Jaspers on Twitter @JaspersMBB and Instagram @Jaspers.MBB.

Bronx Insider: Sports Desk: Manhattan Men's Basketball Drops Non-Conference Finale to Central Connecticut.

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jaspers Drop Non-Conference Final to Blue Devils.

RIVERDALE, N.Y. – Manhattan fell to Central Connecticut, 78–67, in Draddy Gymnasium on Friday night in the non-conference finale for Manhattan.

 
Ant Nelson had a game-high 21 points, and Samir Stewart added 17 to lead Manhattan (3-7).
"Coach Sellers did a great job today; they came in prepared and ready to play," said interim head coach RaShawn Stores postgame. "We have to be better defensively. We [can't] up 57-percent in the first half and 54-percent for the game."

 
Central Connecticut (2-10) led by 11 at the half and by as many as 14 in the second half. Throughout the second half, though, the Jaspers chipped away at the Blue Devils' lead and got it down to three after back-to-back three-pointers by Samir Stewart with 3:03 remaining.

 
Stewart's back-to-back triples came within 34 seconds and turned a nine-point deficit into a three-point deficit for the Jaspers. Those two makes were the senior's only two from behind the arc on the night. The 3-pointers capped a 21-10 stretch by the Jaspers that lasted over seven minutes.

 
From that point on, the Blue Devils scored 10 of the final 12 points. Six of those 10 came from the charity stripe.

 
As a team, Central Connecticut shot over 54-percent from the field. Kellen Amos led the Blue Devils with 20 points on 6-6 shooting from behind the arc. Jay Rodgers (15), Nigel Scantlebury (12), and Abdul Momoh (11) were also in double figures for the visitors.  

Manhattan shot 45-percent from the field tonight and went 9-11 from the line. The Jaspers shot only 25-percent from deep compared to the Blue Devils' 62.5-percent from 3-point range.

 
Both Nelson and Stewart added four assists, and Nelson tallied four steals.

 
The Jaspers shift their focus to MAAC play with a trip to Marist scheduled for Monday. Tipoff in Poughkeepsie is set for 7 p.m. on ESPN+.

 
For the latest on the Manhattan College men's basketball program, follow the Jaspers on Twitter @JaspersMBB and Instagram @Jaspers.MBB. 

Bronx Insider: Sports Desk: Manhattan Men's Basketball Falls in OT vs Bryant; Samir Stewart Nets Career-High.

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Manhattan Edged in OT vs Bryant; Stewart Nets Career-High.

RIVERDALE, N.Y. – The Manhattan Jaspers lost a close battle with the Bryant Bulldogs in Draddy Gymnasium, 104-97, in overtime on Sunday.

Samir Stewart poured in a career-high 35 points, and three other Jaspers were in double figures, but Manhattan (3-6) couldn’t hold off Bryant (8-3) in the overtime period.

“I think [Stewart] is playing with more confidence and being a leader out there. I am so proud of him,” said interim head coach RaShawn Stores after the game. “No matter the outcome, I am proud of them. We stay together and fight in every game. That is what it is about.”

Bryant scored the first bucket in overtime, a 3-pointer from Antwan Walker to make it 88-85. Logan Padgett immediately answered with a three to tie it for Manhattan. The Jaspers took their only overtime lead when Adam Walden converted an old-fashioned three-point play to make it 91-90 with 3:33 to play.

The Bulldogs would retake the lead 20 seconds later and eventually build the lead to as many as eight in the extra session. Walker scored seven of his 20 points in overtime.

In the second half, neither team led by more than seven and featured 10 lead changes and seven ties.

Earl Timberlake gave the Bulldogs a three-point lead, 82-79, with 1:52 left. Twenty seconds later, Stewart answered with a trey of his own to tie the game. Stewart gave the Jaspers an 84-82 lead with 41 seconds to play. Timberlake tied the game with 14 seconds to play at 85 with a layup after Stewart hit 1-of-2 free throws to put the Jaspers up 85-83 with 30 seconds to play.

Manhattan limited 25-percent shooting from behind the arc in the first half and enjoyed a four-point lead at the half. The Jaspers got 16 from Stewart in the first half on four 3-pointers. Raziel Hayun added 12 on 5-9 shooting, and Marques Watson supplied 11 off the bench in the opening 20 minutes. For the game, Manhattan held Bryant to 29-percent from 3-point range.

Stewart’s 35 came off 9-19 shooting, including 7-13 from behind the 3-point line. Hayun’s 16 are season-high for the first-year Jasper. Watson finished with 15 points, and Ant Nelson added 14 for Manhattan.

Timberlake led Bryant with 23 points and 10 rebounds. Sherif Gross-Bullock equaled Walker’s 20 points for the Bulldogs.

Manhattan returns to action on Friday, Dec. 16, against Central Connecticut State. The Jaspers and Blue Devils tip at 7 p.m. inside Draddy Gymnasium.

For the latest on the Manhattan College men's basketball program, follow the Jaspers on Twitter @ManhattanMBB and Instagram @Jaspers.MBB.

Bronx Insider: Sports Desk: Manhattan Men's Basketball Defeated by Providence Wednesday Night.

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Manhattan Defeated by Providence Wednesday Night.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Samir Stewart and Raziel Hayun scored in double figures for Manhattan in a 99-59 loss at Providence on Wednesday night.

Stewart finished the night with a team-leading 17 points and five assists. Hayun added 13 points on four 3-pointers. The 13 points are a season-high for the first-year Jasper.

Providence (7-3) shot 56-percent from the field and limited Manhattan (3-5) to 34-percent shooting. The 34-percent shooting is the lowest this season by the Jaspers, and the 56-percent by the Friars was the best by an opponent this season against Manhattan.

The Jaspers scored the first two points of the game before the Friars reeled off 12 of the next 15 to take a 12-5 lead. Manhattan would not get any closer. Later in the opening stanza, Providence used a 17-3 stretch to create more separation.

Stewart and Adam Cisse hit 3-pointers to get the Jaspers back within 12, 36-24, with 7:12 left in the first half. Cisse’s 3-pointer was the first of the senior forward’s career.

In the second half, the Friars would stretch the lead to as many as 41, 87-46. Over the last 6:30 of the second half, Manhattan outscored Providence 13-12, which included a four-point play from Hayun when he was fouled on a 3-pointer from the wing.

Bryce Hopkins led five Friars in double figures with a game-high 22 points and 11 rebounds.

For Manhattan, Marques Watson also has five assists and chipped in nine points and three steals. Cisse finished with seven points, three rebounds, three steals, and two blocks.

Next for the Jaspers is a Sunday clash with Bryant inside Draddy Gymnasium at 2 p.m. At halftime on Sunday, Manhattan will honor its men’s lacrosse team that won the 2022 MAAC Championship.  

Bronx Insider: Sports Desk: Manhattan Men's Basketball Drops Sunday Decision to Monmouth.

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Manhattan Drops Sunday Decision to Monmouth.

RIVERDALE, N.Y. – Ant Nelson and Marques Watson combined for 37 points, but it wasn’t enough for Manhattan in a 76-69 loss to Monmouth on Sunday afternoon.

The loss snaps Manhattan’s (3-4) two-game winning streak.

Interim head coach RaShawn Stores said postgame, “We have to figure out how to start games better and continue to limit live ball turnovers. We also have to convert on our trips to the free throw line.”

Nelson finished with a season-high 21 points before fouling out. Watson supplied 16 off the bench for the Jaspers. Watson was 6-9 from the floor.

Myles Ruth led Monmouth (1-8) with 21 points (6-12). Tahron Allen and Jack Collins contributed 12 each for the Hawks.

The Monmouth offense started fast, scoring eight of the first 10 points of the game and building a double-digit lead inside the first eight minutes of the contest. The Hawks built a 15 point-lead by halftime and extended the lead to its largest, 17, with 15:36 to play in the second half.

After Monmouth built the 17-point lead, 55-38, Manhattan responded with a 12-2 run over the next 3:56 to cut the deficit to seven, 57-50. Nelson supplied seven during the stretch. The Jaspers eventually got it to six, 71-65, after Samir Stewart hit a 3-pointer with 3:15 to play.

Watson got the Jaspers to within three with less than a minute remaining after connecting on a jumper. Manhattan got a defensive stop with a Josh Roberts’ block on the next Monmouth possession, but the Jaspers turned it over in the backcourt. The Hawks would hit its free throws to preserve the win.

Roberts finished six points, 11 rebounds, and three blocks.

For the game, Monmouth shot 51-percent from the floor. In the first half, Monmouth hit 64-percent from the field. That is the highest percentage Manhattan has an opponent to shoot this season.  

Manhattan returns to action on Wednesday, Dec. 7, at Providence. The tip-off between the Jaspers and Friars is at 8:30 p.m. on FS1. 

Bronx Insider: Sports Desk: Manhattan Men's Basketball Opens MAAC Play with Win Over Fairfield.

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jaspers Edge Stags in MAAC Opener, 56-53.

RIVERDALE, N.Y. – Manhattan went on a 10-0 run and made timely plays in the second half to secure a 56-53 win over Fairfield on Thursday night in the MAAC opener for both teams.

“It was a great win, especially to open league play,” said interim head coach RaShawn Stores after the game. “We continue to grow one day and game at a time. Conference games are always tough. We are trying to get better towards March.”

Manhattan (3-3, 1-0 MAAC) trailed by three at the half but used a 10-0 run early in the second half to take a 36-34 lead with 14:27 to play in the game. The stretch was capped by a Nick Brennen 3-pointer and a steal and score from Ant Nelson on the ensuing Fairfield (2-6, 0-1) possession.

Brennen finished the night with 11 points on 4-8 shooting. The guard hit three 3-pointers, two of which gave the Jaspers a lead in the second half. The guard connected from beyond the arc with 9:17 to play to provide Manhattan with a 44-41 lead and then again with 3:06 to play to make it 54-51 Jaspers. Brennen also took a charge inside the final 40 seconds to cause a turnover as the Jaspers were clinging to a 55-53 lead.

Josh Roberts collected his third block of the game when he rotated over and rejected a shot from Chris Maodih with 65 seconds to play on a potential game-tying layup. On the prior Fairfield possession, the Jasper defense forced a turnover when Adam Cisse deflected and stole an inbound pass with one second left on the shot clock.

In the second half, defensively, the Jaspers limited Fairfield to 18-percent from 3-point range. Manhattan held Fairfield to 32-percent shooting, which is eight points below its season average, for the game. The Stags finished 7-31 from 3-point range and committed 16 turnovers.

Manhattan’s offense started clicking in the second half. After not making a 3-pointer in the opening 20 minutes, the Jaspers hit five in the second half to help in the victory. The Jaspers shot 54-percent from the floor in the second half after only connecting on 37-percent of their attempts over the first 20 minutes.

Nelson finished with a game-high 18 points and added five assists and three steals. Samir Stewart was the other Jasper in double figures with 10 points (4-9). Roberts finished with eight points and nine rebounds.

Caleb Fields had 12 points to lead Fairfield.

It is a quick turnaround for the Jaspers as they welcome Monmouth to Draddy Gymnasium on Sunday at 2 p.m. The Jaspers and Hawks will air on ESPN+.