Game 9: Manhattan (3-5) vs. LIU Brooklyn (4-4)
Sunday, December 16, 2012 at 4 p.m.
Wellness Center (2,000) - Brooklyn, N.Y.
Scouting Report
Manhattan (3-5)
The Jaspers are in the midst of a 10 game stretch in the metropolitan area. Manhattan won its first game of this series Sunday rolling to a 20-point victory over Siena in Riverdale. It was the Jaspers' largest margin of victory this season as the squad improved to 2-0 at Draddy Gymnasium.
Preseason All-Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) forward Rhamel Brown got back on track against the Saints after going four games without scoring in double-figures. Brown exploded for a career-high 21 points and shot 9-for-12 from the field. The 6'7" junior from Brooklyn currently leads the MAAC with a 59.0% field goal percentage.
First-year point guard RaShawn Stores is emerging as a force in the Manhattan backcourt. Stores is coming off a three-game stretch where he averaged 10.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists and boasts a 12-to-1 Assist:Turnover ratio. Stores was named the MAAC Rookie of the Week Monday after setting career-highs with 12 points and six assists in the Jaspers' victory over Siena.
The Jaspers are settling in after playing an aggressive non-league schedule. Manhattan has gone 3-3 since its season-opening road losses at 2012 NCAA Tournament participants #2 Louisville and Harvard, playing both games without injured Preseason All-MAAC First Team guard George Beamon. In these last six games, the Jaspers have held opponents to 60.7 points per game. Manhattan's defense kept opponents under 60 points and to a 36.8% field goal percentage in the three wins over Hofstra, Fordham and Siena.
LIU Brooklyn (4-4)
The Blackbirds have won their last four contests, including a victory at Rice on Wednesday. Senior Jamal Olasewere scored 26 points as LIU Brooklyn ran off with a 97-70 victory in Houston.
Four of LIU Brooklyn's five starters are averaging double-figures this season. Olasewere, a 6'7" 225-pound native of Silver Spring, Md., leads the Blackbirds with a 19.0 scoring average. Senior forward Julian Boyd has posted 18.5 points per game with a team-high 54.6% field goal percentage. Junior guard Jason Brickman (12.5 ppg) and senior guard C.J. Garner (11.5 ppg) round out the double-figure scorers.
LIU Brooklyn has averaged 80.4 points, but is allowing 80.6 points per game. The Blackbirds' opponents are shooting 51.3% from the field and 41.9% beyond the arc through eight games. Brickman leads the Blackbirds with 18 three-point field goals.
The Blackbirds return to the Wellness Center for the fourth home game in the last five contests. LIU Brooklyn holds the longest active home win streak in the nation with 30 consecutive victories at the Wellness Center, a streak which began in Dec. 2010. The Blackbirds most recent home victory came against Hofstra on Dec. 8 when they held off the Pride for a 88-84 triumph.
