Game 23: Manhattan (7-15, 5-7 MAAC) vs. Canisius (15-8, 8-4 MAAC)
Thursday, February 7, 2013 at 7 p.m.
Draddy Gymnasium (2,520) - Riverdale, N.Y.
WatchESPN
Scouting Report
Manhattan (7-15, 5-7 MAAC)
Manhattan picked up its fourth victory in seven home contests this season on Sunday with a 57-49 win over Saint Peter's. The Jaspers delivered one of their best free-throw shooting efforts (83.3%, 30-36), especially in the clutch when they hit 14-of-15 attempts in the last five minutes to hold off the Peacocks.
Junior forward Rhamel Brown delivered arguably his top all-around performance of his career in the win over Saint Peter's, finishing with a game-high 21 points and 10 rebounds. He also matched a career-high seven blocks for the third time this season. Brown shot 8-for-10 from the field and 5-for-6 at the free-throw line. It was his fourth double-double of the season and 11th in his career.
The Jaspers have a favorable season ending home stretch of MAAC games as they play four of their final six league opponents at Draddy Gymnasium. Manhattan enters its contest with Canisius seventh in the MAAC standings, but controls its own destiny to capture a top-6 seed for the MAAC Tournament to avoid playing in the opening round.
Manhattan has emerged as an elite defensive team in the MAAC. The Jaspers have held their last five opponents to a sub 40% shooting mark, while they lead the conference holding MAAC teams to 59.6 points per game and a 39.8% field goal mark.
Brown, the reigning MAAC Defensive Player of the Year, has been instrumental in the Jaspers defensive dominance. He leads the league with 64 blocks and he is 12th nationally averaging 2.91 rejections per contest. Brown also leads the MAAC in field goal percentage (56.1%) and he is fourth in rebounding (6.9 rpg).
Jaspers' junior point guard Michael Alvarado is the team's second leading scorer (8.7 ppg) and he is fourth in the MAAC shooting 82.4% from the free-throw line. Freshman point guard Shane Richards has also been a key producer in the last 15 games averaging 10.3 points with 43 threes during this stretch.
Canisius (15-8, 8-4 MAAC)
The Golden Griffs have won five of their last six games. Canisius is coming off back-to-back home wins over Loyola (Md.) and Iona in Buffalo.
Junior point guard Billy Baron leads the Golden Griffs averaging 16.3 points per contest. Baron is also the MAAC's assist leader handing out 5.7 per game.
Senior guards Isaac Sosa (13.0 ppg) and Harold Washington (12.9 ppg) have contributed to one of the top scoring offenses in the league that averages 73.8 points per game. Sosa has 74 three-pointers this season and leads the league shooting 43.0% from downtown.
Jordan Heath is the fourth Golden Griff who is averaging double-figures (10.4 ppg). The 6'10", 240-pound junior forward leads Canisius with a 53.5% field goal shooting mark and 29 blocks per game, going along with a 6.0 rebounds per game.
The Golden Griffs begin a five game road stretch with their contest at Manhattan. Canisius is 5-6 on the road this season, but have gone 3-2 in MAAC away games.
