Buffalo, N.Y. (January 8, 2007)- Canisius began the game with a 2-0 lead, but a Devon Austin three pointer gave Manhattan the lead for good, as the Jaspers posted a 60-51 MAAC win over Canisius tonight at the Koessler Athletic Center on the Golden Griffs' campus. Manhattan extends its winning streak to three games, improving to 6-8 overall, and 3-1 in MAAC play. Canisius drops to 6-9 overall, 1-4 in MAAC play.
After Darnell Wilson opened the game with a layup to give Canisius a 2-0 lead, Manhattan used an 11-2 run to open up a seven point, 11-4, lead, capped by a Guy Ngarndi layup, as the senior scored six points in the run. Canisius was able to draw within one, 16-15, with 9:32, but the Jaspers would not allow the Griffs to draw even, pushing the lead back to seven with an 8-2 run, and would take a 10 point, 35-25, lead into the break.
Both teams increased the defensive pressure in the second half, but Manhattan would not allow the lead to drop below five points, and led by as many as 13, 50-43, with 3:48 remaining in the game. Canisius would attempt to cut into the lead late in the game, but Manhattan converted its free throws down the stretch to seal the win.
Austin led all scorers with 16 points, adding three steals, and was joined in double figures by Antoine Pearson, who tallied 10 points and four assists, while shooting 8-10 from the line. Patrick Bouli chipped in with four points, six rebounds, and a game- and season-high seven assists.
Shaun James, who scored 10 of his 12 points in the early going of the second half to keep Canisius in the game, paced the Golden Griff offense, adding a game-high nine rebounds.
The Manhattan defense registered 13 steals, while forcing 24 Canisius turnovers.
The Jaspers continue a three game road trip, and a stretch of nine of 11 on the road, traveling to New Rochelle, N.Y. to take on local and MAAC rival Iona College on Friday, January 12. The game, which is slated to be televised on ESPNU, will begin at 9:00 p.m.
