Game 17: Manhattan (5-11, 3-3 MAAC) vs. Canisius (10-7, 3-3 MAAC)
Thursday, January 17, 2013 at 7 p.m.
Koessler Athletic Center (2,196) - Buffalo, N.Y.
Live Broadcast Available on JasperVision.tv
Scouting Report
Manhattan (5-11, 3-3 MAAC)
The Jaspers have won three of their last five MAAC games, which includes their most recent victory over Marist (65-53) on Sunday at Draddy Gymnasium. Manhattan has held its conference opponents to 55 or fewer points in all three wins. The Jaspers have yielded 61.7 points per game in MAAC contests.
Junior forward Rhamel Brown has established himself as one of the top big men in the MAAC. Brown leads the conference and ranks in the top-30 nationally in field goal percentage (56.7%) and blocked shots (2.7 bpg). The 6'7" Brooklyn native has scored in double-figures in the Jaspers' last seven games. He is coming off an 18 point performance against Marist where he shot 7-for-10 from the field. Brown averaged 15.1 points, 7.4 rebounds and has averaged 3.6 blocks in the last nine games. He set a career-high blocking seven shots on two occasions in the last three games at Iona (Jan. 6) and Marist (Jan. 13). Brown is also fourth in the MAAC averaging 7.1 rebounds per contest.
Reigning MAAC Rookie of the Week Shane Richards is developing into a key contributor for the Jaspers. Richards is coming off back-to-back double-digit scoring performances last week. The 6'5" freshman forward from New York City has averaged 9.9 points and has buried a team-high 28 three-pointers in the last 10 games, which dates back to his first career start at Marist. Richards stands second in the MAAC averaging 3.0 three-pointers per contest against league opponents.
The Jaspers enjoyed good news when junior point guard Michael Alvarado returned to the court on Sunday against Marist. Alvarado was sidelined for three games with an ankle injury that he suffered on Jan. 1 against Stony Brook. Alvarado has posted 8.4 points and 2.1 assists per game in 13 appearances this season. He has the sixth best free-throw shooting percentage in the MAAC with a 81.1% mark at the charity stripe.
Manhattan delivered its top shooting performance of the year on Sunday in the 12-point victory over Marist. The Jaspers shot 53.8% (21-39) from the field, including a 68.2% (15-22) shooting effort in the first half. Manhattan's relentless defense stifled the Red Foxes as they held them to a season best 31.9% (15-47) field goal mark.
Canisius (10-7, 3-3 MAAC)
The Golden Griffs have dropped four of their last five contests, including buzzer beating setback at Siena (Jan. 11) and a 10-point loss at Iona (Jan. 13). Canisius won eight of its first 10 games this season, featuring a non-conference victory at Temple on Dec. 19. The Golden Griffs are 6-1 at home this season.
Canisius first year head coach Jim Barron has revamped a team that won only five games last season. The Golden Griffs rank third in the MAAC averaging 74.0 points per game. Junior guard Billy Baron leads the team and stands fifth in the MAAC averaging 17.3 points, starting all 17 games. Baron is the MAAC's assist leader with 5.9 per game.
The Golden Griffs lead the league with a 39.6% three-point field goal percentage. Senior forward Isaac Sosa is second in the MAAC with 50 three-point field goals. The transfer from Central Florida is averaging 11.7 points per game. Senior guard Harold Washington tops the team with a 43.3% three-point shooting percentage. He has posted 13.8 points per game.
