Box Score
RIVERDALE, N.Y. - Jaspers' freshman point guard Michael Alvarado scored a game-high 23 points, while teammate George Beamon added 22 points, but Manhattan (6-23, 3-14 MAAC) dropped a 72-63 decision at Canisius (14-14, 8-9 MAAC) on Friday. Beamon posted his team-leading eighth 20-point scoring performance of the year and he shot a perfect 14-for-14 from the free-throw line.
Golden Griffs' senior forward Greg Logins led Canisius with 20 points on 6-for-11 shooting. Elton Frazier (18), Julius Coles (13) and Gaby Belardo (11) also posted double-digit scoring efforts helping Canisius snap a three game skid.
Manhattan held tight with Canisius by shooting a hot 52.6% (10-19) from the field and 11-for-12 (91.7%) at the free-throw line in the first half. Alvarado had 16 points at the break, which included a scoring surge of four consecutive baskets early in the contest. Logins matched Alvarado's 16 points in the opening 20 minutes as he buried 4-of-5 3-point attempts to carry the Golden Griffs into halftime with a 35-31 advantage.
The Jaspers shooting cooled off in the second stanza, while Canisius improved its field goal percentage. Manhattan went 29.2% from the field in the second half to the Golden Griffs' 47.6% (10-21) mark and 50% (4-for-8) rate from 3-point territory. Regardless, Manhattan battled in the second half and held close with the Canisius keeping its deficit within striking distance.
Manhattan outscored the Golden Griffs 10-5 in the first five minutes of the second half to grab a 41-40 lead on Alvarado's layup at 15:08. Although, Canisius regained the an advantage with Coles second 3-pointer of the night at 12:41. Coles' big bucket sparked an 8-0 run to earn a lead it would not relinquish. The Jaspers suffered without a field goal for a 14 minute stretch in the second half.
The Jaspers converted 84.8% (28-33) of its free-throws in a contest that was plagued by 48 combined fouls. Canisius shot 22-for-29 (75.9%) at the charity stripe.
Manhattan graduate student Demetrius Jemison finished with 10 points and five rebounds. Jaspers' senior Andrew Gabriel led the squad with six rebounds in 25 minutes of action.
Manhattan will play its final game of the regular-season on Sunday when the Jaspers visit Niagara. Tip off is scheduled for 2 p.m.
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