Game 26: Manhattan (10-15, 8-7 MAAC) vs. Niagara (15-11, 11-4 MAAC)
Sunday, February 17, 2013 at 2 p.m.
Draddy Gymnasium (2,520) - Riverdale, N.Y.
Scouting Report
Manhattan (10-15, 8-7 MAAC)
The Jaspers carry the longest active win streak in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) into its meeting with Niagara, the league's first-place team. Manhattan has won its last four games, and five of the last six. The Jaspers picked up their third consecutive victory at Draddy Gymnasium on Friday with a spirited 74-73 win in double overtime over Iona.
Junior forward Rhamel Brown put on a show for a national audience against the Gaels on an ESPNU broadcast as part of Rivalry Week. Brown finished with 21 points, 17 rebounds and seven blocks in 42 minutes. He came up with his 10th offensive rebound of the contest with 11 seconds remaining in the second overtime off a free-throw to set up the game winning layup by sophomore forward Emmy Andujar.
Brown has put up monstrous numbers over the Jaspers' recent four-game winning streak. He has averaged 15.0 points, 9.5 rebounds, 5.0 blocks, while shooting 64.1% from the field. Brown ranks in the top-10 nationally averaging 3.1 blocks per game. The 6'7" forward from Brooklyn also tops the MAAC with a 56.5% field goal percentage.
Manhattan has also relied on the superb play of Andujar during their recent hot streak. Andujar is coming off back-to-back double-digit scoring performances. He has led the Jaspers in the last two games averaging 14.0 points and 5.0 assists.
Sophomore forward Donovan Kates has become a consistent threat for the Jaspers over the last four wins. Kates has registered double-figures in all four contests, while leading the team in scoring twice. Kates has posted 12.8 points and has hit 18-of-21 (85.7%) free-throws during this stretch. The Hopkinsville, Ky. native has hit his last 13 free-throw attempts.
Manhattan has emerged as the premier defensive team in the MAAC, leading the league in field goal defense (38.2%) and points allowed per game (58) in conference contests. The Jaspers have held six of their last seven opponents below 60 points in regulation. In the Jaspers' most recent victory over Iona (82.2 ppg), Manhattan limited the Gaels to only 58 points before overtime.
Niagara (15-11, 11-4 MAAC)
The Purple Eagles have lost three of their last four games, but are coming off a 57-54 victory at Marist on Friday. Sophomore Juan'ya Green led Niagara with 20 points and four three-pointers in the win over the Red Foxes.
Green is a 6'3" guard from Philadelphia who is tied for fifth in the MAAC averaging 16.7 points per game. He leads the team with 46 three-pointers and ranks second in the MAAC averaging 5.0 assists per game.
Niagara has been without leading scorer Antoine Mason for the last three games who suffered a sprained ankle in the Purple Eagles' double-overtime loss to Loyola on Feb. 2. Mason has averaged 18.9 points shooting a team best 44.7% from the field this season.
Sophomore guard Ameen Tanksley has started all 26 games for the Purple Eagles and he is the third Niagara player who is averaging double-digits in scoring (11.5 ppg). Tanksley also leads the team with a 6.1 rebounding average.
Niagara is one of the top offensive teams in the conference posting 74.2 points per game.
