Box Score
BUFFALO, N.Y. ? Junior guard Darryl Crawford knocked down a midrange jumper with five seconds remaining to lift Manhattan (8-6, 2-2 MAAC) to a 59-57 victory over Canisius (5-9, 0-4 MAAC) this evening in Buffalo. Crawford's four points in the contest capped a 9-0 Jasper surge to close out the game. Jaspers' forward Andrew Gabriel recorded his first career double-double as Manhattan snapped its three game losing skid.
Manhattan's stingy defense held the Golden Griffins scoreless over the final 3:17 of the contest. With 53 seconds remaining, Gabriel converted two clutch free-throws to pull the Jaspers within 57-55. On the ensuing possession, Crawford swiped the ball from Canisius guard Julius Coles at midcourt, and evened the score with an uncontested lay-up.
“We were really desperate, really needed a stop and needed to score. I saw a chance to steal the ball, I went for it when he (Coles) turned his back and took it to the basket,” said Crawford.
The Jaspers made a big defensive stop on the following possession as junior point guard Antoine Pearson forced Frank Turner, the Golden Griffins leading scorer, into a difficult shot. Gabriel grabbed the rebound for his 12th of the contest, which set up the game winning basket. The Brooklyn native also scored 11 points to secure his double-double.
Following a Manhattan timeout, the Jaspers got the ball in Crawford's hands. He drove right side, got his defender in the air on a pump fake, and finished the up-and-under move with just seconds remaining.
“I had to pump fake because they were playing scrappy all game and blocking shots,” stated Crawford.
Canisius forward Tomas Vazquez-Simmons set a Koessler Athletic Center record with eight blocks. The Golden Griffins combined for 13 in the contest.
Devon Austin led the Jaspers with 13 points on 5-for-12 shooting. Senior teammate Herve Banogle scored a career-high 10 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Manhattan reserve Jamel Ferguson contributed three 3-pointers to the winning effort.
Austin recorded two blocks, advancing to a sixth place tie on the program's career list. He is locked with Mike Bruno '79 who rejected 89 during his four years in Riverdale.
Manhattan dominated the battle of the boards by a 51-30 margin. Crawford assisted in the rebounding category, finishing with seven.
Turner led all scorers with 18 points and was 8-for-15 from the floor. Julius Coles added 11 for the Golden Griffins.
Manhattan returns to action on Friday versus Marist at 7 p.m. in Riverdale. It is the second game of a doubleheader with the Lady Jaspers.
