Jersey City, N.J. (February 8, 2006)- Playing his high school teammate, Keydren Clark, for the final time in the regular season, senior co-captain Jason Wingate led Manhattan to an 81-74, win over Saint Peter's tonight at the Yanitelli Center on the Saint Peter's campus. The 6-0 guard poured in a game-high 31 points as the Jaspers improve to 15-7, 11-3 in MAAC play, while the Peacocks fall to 12-11, 8-6 in MAAC play. With the win, Manhattan clinches a first-round bye in the MAAC playoffs.
After Todd Sowell gave Saint Peter's a 2-0 lead, the Jaspers scored the next 12 points to take a 12-2 lead with 16:19 left in the opening stanza. The Peacocks responded with seven straight points of their own to pull within three, 12-9. Manhattan scored the next five points to open up an eight point lead, and maintained the lead until Saint Peter's used a 9-3 run to pull within two, 22-20, 8:10 before the break. Manhattan responded with a 10-0 to take a double-digit lead, and led by as many as 14, 38-24, before the Peacocks were able to climb back to within eight, 40-32, at the break.
In the second half, the Jaspers quickly pushed the lead back to double-figures, leading by as many as 17, 64-47, following a Mike Konovelchick jumper with 8:39 left. Saint Peter's was not able to cut the deficit under six points until there was less than a minute remaining, but the Jaspers converted seven-of-eight from the line in the last 46 seconds to ice the win.
Wingate added a season-high five rebounds and two assists to his 31 points. Jeff Xavier recorded his first collegiate double-double, scoring 19 points and pulling down a career-high 11 rebounds. Arturo Dubois added 14 points, nine rebounds, while MAAC Rookie of the Week Devon Austin chipped in with seven points and a career-high nine boards as Manhattan won the battle of the boards, 47-38.
Clark paced Saint Peter's with 27 points.
Next up for Manhattan is the MAAC's Western New York trip, as the Jaspers travel to Buffalo, N.Y. to take on Canisius at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 11, and Niagara at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, February 13.