Game 14: Manhattan (4-9, 2-1 MAAC) vs. Iona (8-6, 2-1 MAAC)
Sunday, January 6, 2013 at 5 p.m.
Hynes Athletics Center (2,611) - New Rochelle, N.Y.
Scouting Report
Manhattan (4-9, 2-1 MAAC)
The Jaspers won their second straight contest in MAAC play, defeating Saint Peter's on Friday 55-53 in Jersey City. Manhattan was at the top of the conference standings in a six-team tie three games into the MAAC season as of Jan. 4.
Manhattan's defense has been relentless in its first two games of 2013. The Jaspers have held both of it opponents well below their season scoring average (Stony Brook -18.7 ppg, Saint Peter's -9.4 ppg). The Jaspers have limited these teams to 51.5 points per game and a 37.1% field goal percentage.
Jaspers' junior forward Rhamel Brown is emerging as a premier post player in the MAAC. The 6'7" co-captain from Brooklyn has scored in double-figures in the last four contests and five of the last six games, which includes two 20+ point performances. Brown has averaged team-highs in points (14.5 ppg), rebounds (6.7 rpg), blocks (2.7 bpg), field goal percentage (55.7%) and steals (1.7 spg) all coming in 26.8 minutes per game. On the season, Brown leads the MAAC in blocked shots (2.1 bpg), while standing second in field goal percentage (55.5%) and he is fifth in rebounding (6.6 rpg).
Senior guard Mohamed Koita has stepped up to lead the Manhattan backcourt in the absence of injured All-MAAC guards George Beamon (16.8 ppg) and Michael Alvarado (8.4 ppg). Koita is coming off back-to-back double digit scoring efforts, averaging 10.5 points in the last two contests. Koita leads the MAAC in three-point field goal percentage knocking down 55% of his shots beyond the arc.
Manhattan has also received key contributions from freshman forward Shane Richards who has led the team in scoring in two of the last four games. Richards is averaging 11.5 points with 14 three-pointers during this stretch. He is coming off a game-high 16 point performance in the Jaspers' victory at Saint Peter's.
In MAAC games, Manhattan ranks second in the league yielding 56.7 points per game and with a +6.0 scoring margin. The Jaspers are also second in free-throw shooting (71.7%) and field goal percentage defense (40.6%).
Iona (8-6, 2-1 MAAC)
The Gaels have won three of their last four games, including a 66-62 victory at Siena on Friday. Senior guard Lamont Jones led Iona with 19 points and five assists against the Saints. Iona shot a season-low 37.9% and had to rally back from a 10-point second half deficit to get past Siena.
Jones is the MAAC's scoring leader averaging 22.2 points starting 13 of 14 games for the Gaels this season. He is shooting 45.2% from the field and is second in the league with a 89.1% free-throw shooting percentage.
Junior guard Sean Armand is right behind Jones on the MAAC's scoring list with a 18.9 points per game. Armand leads the conference with 55 three-pointers and is shooting 43.7% beyond the arc.
The Gaels newest transfer David Laury, a 6'8", 240-pound native of South Orange, N.J., became eligible five games ago, making his debut against LaSalle on Dec. 20. Laury came to Iona from Lamar State Port Arthur Junior College. He is averaging 17.4 points, 10.4 rebounds and is shooting 58.6% from the field.
Iona leads the MAAC in scoring offense with 81.6 points per game. The Gaels are the top shooting team in the league with a 45.3% field goal mark and 80.1% free-throw percentage.
