2013 MAAC Tournament Semifinals
Game 31: #6 Manhattan (13-17) vs. #7 Fairfield (19-14)
Sunday, March 10, 2013 at 4:30 p.m.
MassMutual Center (7,079) - Springfield, Mass.
WatchESPN
Scouting Report
#6 Manhattan (13-17)
The Jaspers entered the 2013 MAAC Tournament as one of the hottest teams in the conference going 7-3 in the last 10 games of the regular-season. Manhattan held a season-best four game win streak from Feb. 3 - 15, which included a 22-point victory at Fairfield and a thrilling double-overtime triumph against Iona.
Junior forward Rhamel Brown enjoyed a breakout campaign, earning All-MAAC Second Team honors and the MAAC Defensive Player of the Year award for the second straight season. The 6'7" co-captain from Brooklyn stepped up for the Jaspers with the absence of senior guard George Beamon who suffered a season ending injury. Beamon was the MAAC's scoring champion in 2011-12, averaging 19.0 points per game, and entered the year as the seventh top returning scorer in the nation.
Brown led Manhattan, averaging 11.7 points and ranked fifth in the MAAC with 7.1 rebounds per game during the regular-season. For the third straight year, Brown led the MAAC in blocked shots (91), ranking 10th nationally with 3.03 per game. Brown also led the league with a 55.6% field goal shooting mark. One of the most unique players in conference history, Brown teased triple-doubles on several occasions. He had five double-doubles and had four career-high seven block performances.
Junior co-captain Michael Alvarado and sophomore Emmy Andujar were also factors in the Jaspers' success in the last five weeks of the season. Alvarado, a 6'2" point guard from the Bronx, returned to the starting line up on Jan. 27, coming back from an ankle injury he suffered on Jan. 1 against Stony Brook. Alvarado started the final 10 games of the regular-season as he helped Manhattan post a 4-1 home record during this span. Alvarado was the second leading scorer in the Jaspers' spread offense with 8.2 points per game.
Andujar, a 6'6" 205-pound point forward from the Bronx, led Manhattan in assists for the second straight year with 72, going along with a 7.8 scoring average.
Sophomore forward Donovan Kates has emerged as a key threat for the Jaspers. Kates has scored in double-figures in six of the last seven MAAC games of the regular-season. He averaged 11.1 points and shot 90.6% (29-32) at the free-throw line during this stretch.
Manhattan placed two first-year players on the MAAC Rookie Team in Shane Richards and RaShawn Stores. Richards was named Co-MAAC Rookie of the Year as he averaged 9.2 points appearing in all 18 MAAC regular-season contests. He finished the regular-season fifth in the league shooting 39.6% beyond the arc and sixth averaging 2.0 threes per contest.
Stores was named MAAC Rookie of the Week three times. He averaged 5.7 points and dished out 67 assists, playing in all 29 games.
Manhattan has been the top defensive team in conference action. The Jaspers lead the MAAC yielding only 57.6 points per game and a 38.1% field goal shooting defense.
#7 Fairfield (19-14)
The Stags are coming off their second win in the 2013 MAAC Tournament with a 43-42 victory over #2 Rider on Saturday in the Quarterfinals. #7 Fairfield was led by senior guard Derek Needham who scored a game-high 19 points, shooting 8-for-12 at the free-throw line.
Needham earned 2013 All-MAAC Second Team honors as he leads the Stags in scoring with 14.7 points per game. He also dished out a team-high 105 assists and is Fairfield's top free-throw shooter (76.7%).
Fairfield forward Maurice Barrow was named the MAAC's Sixth Player of the Year as he averaged 8.8 points and 4.0 rebounds per game. Stags' freshman forward Amadou Sidibe shared the MAAC Rookie of the Year award with Manhattan forward Shane Richards. Sidibe has a 6.0 scoring average and leads the team in rebounding (6.1 rpg) and field goal percentage (54.2%).
