Box Score
BUFFALO, N.Y. - George Beamon exploded for a season-high 33 points as Manhattan (15-7, 8-2 MAAC) rolled past Canisius 78-66 in Buffalo for the Jaspers' sixth straight win. Sophomore forward Rhamel Brown powered the Jaspers' bench with 10 points on 5-for-6 shooting, he grabbed seven rebounds and blocked three shots helping Manhattan knock off Canisius (4-16, 1-9 MAAC) for the fifth time in their last six meetings at the Koessler Athletic Center.
Beamon took over the second half scoring 24 points on 10-for-14 shooting while pulling down five of his team-high eight rebounds in the final 20 minutes. The junior guard ignited a 14-2 run in the opening five minutes of the stanza to regain the Jaspers first lead since the 17 minute mark in the first half . Manhattan never looked back.
Manhattan built its lead as large as 16 points with its balanced and unselfish team effort that featured a season-high 23 assists. Freshman forward Emmy Anudjar was one assist shy of tying his career-high as he led the Jaspers with seven to go along with six points. Andujar's classmate Ryan McCoy delivered his top all-around effort of the year as he set career-highs with six points and four assists, while adding four rebounds to his stat line. McCoy was perfect from downtown knocking down two 3s.
The Jaspers received big three-pointers from senior Kidani Brutus and freshman Donovan Kates who hit two apiece. Brutus matched season-highs with seven rebounds and four assists in 28 minutes off the bench.
The Jaspers trailed by as many as nine points as Canisius capitalized on Manhattan's sluggish start shooting 3-for-16 (18.8%) in the first nine minutes of action. Golden Griffs' junior guard Alshwan Hymes hit four 3-pointers and Gaby Belardo added two more as Canisius clung to a 35-33 advantage at intermission. Hymes scored 14 of his 16 points in the first half and Belardo added 10 of his team-high 18 points.
Canisius cooled off after shooting 46.2% (6-13) from beyond the arc in the first half. The Jaspers' stingy defense that entered the contest ranked first in the MAAC in field goal percentage defense held the Golden Griffs to only one 3-pointer and a 35.5% field goal percentage in the last 20 minutes.
Manhattan's big men dominated down low with the Jaspers outscoring Canisius 36-18 in the paint. Senior forward Roberto Colonette was a key part of the effort with his activity on the glass. Colonette scored six points and five of his six rebounds came on the offensive end of the floor.
The Jaspers locked down Golden Griffs' top scorer Harold Washington to only 5-for-15 shooting from the field. Washington, a junior transfer who entered the contest ranked third in the MAAC in scoring, did not get his first field goal until 1:16 in the first half. He finished with 16 points and tied teammate Milian Franklin with a game-high nine rebounds, but Washington also turned the ball over seven times.
Manhattan's six game win streak is the program's longest in five years. It is also the longest active streak in the MAAC. The Jaspers are still locked in a three-way tie with Iona and Loyola for first place in the conference.
The Jaspers will look to sweep the Western New York swing of the conference schedule for the first time since 2003-04 on Sunday when Manhattan visits Niagara. Tip off is slated for 4 p.m. and will air live nationally on ESPN3.com.