Riverdale, N.Y. (February 3, 2006)- Manhattan struggled from behind the arc and was unable to overcome Niagara's size inside, dropping a 67-51 decision tonight at Draddy Gym on the Manhattan campus. The Jaspers fall to 13-7, 9-3 in MAAC play, while Niagara improves to 8-12, 5-7 in MAAC play.
Manhattan scored the first six points of the game, but Niagara answered right back with six straight points of its own to knot the score at 6-6 four minutes into the game. The Purple Eagles extended the run to 10-0 to open up a four point, 10-6, lead, and maintained the lead until the Jaspers used a 14-2 run to open up an eight point lead, 23-15, with 6:55 left before the break. Niagara responded by scoring the game's next seven points to pull with one, 23-22, before, after two Devon Austin free throws, closing out the half with a 5-0 run to take a 27-25 lead into the break.
The Purple Eagles stormed out the gate in the second stanza, scoring the first nine points of the half to go up by 11, 36-25, and extended the lead to as many as 22, 63-41, on the way to the win.
Arturo Dubois tallied his fourth straight double-double, pacing the Jaspers with 17 points, 11 rebounds, and two blocks. Jeff Xavier added 13 points and three steals.
Two Purple Eagles tallied double-doubles, as J.R. Duffy scored a game-high 21 points, adding 11 rebounds, and James Mathis scored 17 points and added 10 rebounds. Clif Brown added 20 points, and Stanley Hodge handed out seven assists.
Manhattan gets back in action on Sunday, February 3, hosting Loyola for a MAAC game that will be televised on ESPNU. The game is slated to tip at 12 noon.