Today's Matchup:
The Jaspers look for their second straight win with the close of their Western New York swing this afternoon against Niagara. Tip-off is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. The Jaspers lead the all-time series 42-22, but Niagara has won the last three meetings, including a 96-86 win at Draddy Gymnasium earlier this season on January 5. In that game, freshman
Chris Smith scored a team-high 21 points in just his third game with the Jaspers, while
Antoine Pearson added 16 points. Charron Fisher and Tyrone Lewis each scored 27 to lead Niagara. The last time Manhattan beat both Canisius and Niagara on the road in the same year was the 2003-04 season.
All-time record:
Manhattan is in its 102nd season of men's basketball. The Jaspers' overall record is 1210-1046 (.536), while the team has posted a 203-204 (.497) record over 26-plus seasons of MAAC play. The men's basketball program was established in 1904-05 and has taken two seasons off (1943-44 and 1944-45) due to World War II. In 55 of the program's 101-plus seasons, including the four of the last six seasons, the Jaspers have posted a .500 or better record. Manhattan's 200 MAAC wins makes them just the second MAAC team to reach 200 wins in conference, joining Iona College.
New York State Of Mind:
The Jaspers have had tremendous success against schools in New York State over the past eight-plus years, having posted an overall record of 69-49 against NY schools. Over the past five-plus seasons, Manhattan's record is 55-29. Against only New York City area schools (Fordham, St. John's, Hofstra, Iona, Long Island, Columbia, St. Francis, Wagner), the Jaspers are even better, posting an 28-15 record, including an 26-9 record over the past five-plus seasons.
Using Windex On The Offensive Glass As Well:
Manhattan has been hitting the offensive glass hard so far this season, tallying an equal or greater amount of offensive boards in eight of the 12 games this season. The Jaspers held significant advantages in four games, Hofstra (17-7), St. Francis-N.Y. (18-9), Fordham (21-14), and Rutgers (21-11). Brandon Adams (29), Andrew Gabriel (27), and Devon Austin (24) pace the Jaspers in offensive rebounding, numbers that rank them among the MAAC leaders.
MAAC Success:
Over the last six seasons, Manhattan has put up some impressive numbers, winning three MAAC Regular Season Titles, two MAAC Tournament Titles, two Holiday Festival Titles, playing in two NCAA Tournaments and two NIT, posting five winning seasons (including four 20+ win seasons), and posting a 116-64 record (64.4%). The Jaspers have also posted more MAAC wins and overall wins than any other MAAC school over the last six years.
Jasper Forecast: 70, In The Clear:
When scoring 70 or more points, Manhattan has posted an 93-20 (82.3%) record over the last six-pluseasons, including 22 straight from February 23, 2003 (an 83-49 win over Loyola)-March 18,2004 (a 75-60 win over Florida). The Jaspers went 8-4 last year when reaching the 70 point mark.
What's Next?:
Following today's game, the Jaspers close their four-game roadtrip against Siena College in Albany, N.Y. on Thursday, January 17. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Manhattan leads the all-time series 44-27, but Siena won all three meetings last year, including a victory in the quarterfinals of the MAAC Tournament in Bridgeport, Connecticut, 75-72.
Devon Austin led the Jaspers with 19 points in a full 40 minutes, while
Darryl Crawford and
Patrick Bouli each scored 14 points in Manhattan's final game of last season. The Saints were picked to finish first in the MAAC by the conference's coaches in the preseason poll.
