Box Score
RIVERDALE, N.Y. - Manhattan rallied from a 10-point deficit in the second half to force an extra session but Quinnipiac scored the first basket of overtime and hung on for a 90-86 victory over the Jaspers at Draddy Gymnasium on Sunday afternoon.
Quinnipiac held a 35-29 halftime lead in a first half that had five lead changes and one tie score. The first 20 minutes set the tone for the rest of the contest, which featured 11 lead changes and seven ties.
Midway through the second half, Manhattan regained the lead on a driving layup by Michael Alvarado that gave the Jaspers a 46-45 edge at the 12:41 mark. The Bobcats' Evan Conti then scored seven straight points for his team, sparking a 7-2 run over the next minute that gave Quinnipiac a 52-48 lead.
The Bobcats built a 70-60 lead on two Zaid Hearst free throws that came with 5:33 to go before Manhattan mounted its comeback. It began when Michael Alvarado found Rhamel Brown on a picture-perfect alley oop in a halfcourt set. Alvarado then converted consecutive conventional three-point plays to bring the Jaspers within two points, 70-68, with 4:12 remaining.
With the Draddy Gym faithful getting louder, Shane Richards buried a three ball from the top of the key to put Manhattan in front, 71-70 with 3:50 left in regulation. Manhattan ended its 13-0 on two free throws by George Beamon at the 2:55 mark to lead by three.
Quinnipiac received consecutive baskets by Ike Azotam and Umar Shannon to regain a one-point advantage with 1:28 remaining, but Alvarado responded with another driving layup to put Manhattan back in front, 75-74.
An Azotam free throw tied it at 75-75, then Alvarado found Andujar underneath to put Manhattan ahead by two with 49 seconds left. Trailing by two with the clock winding down, Umar Shannon drove the lane and drew a foul. Shannon sank both free throws, setting up a final possession for the Jaspers in which a three-pointer in the final seconds was short. Manhattan regained the ball with 0.6 seconds left but a lob attempt at the rim was denied by a Quinnipiac defender, sending the game into overtime.
Conti's layup gave Quinnipiac a two-point edge at the start of overtime and the Bobcats still led 82-80 after a Rhamel Brown layup at the 2:46 mark. The Jaspers had a chance to tie after forcing a miss but were unable to convert. On the other end, Azotam's layup pushed the Quinnipiac lead to four, sparking a 6-0 run in which the Bobcats ultimately led 88-80.
Brown and Alvarado scored 15 points apiece to pace four Jaspers in double figures. Beamon and Richards each finished with 12 points. Beamon recorded his fourth double-double of the season with 12 points and 12 rebounds.
"It was a tough conference game," head coach Steve Masiello said after the contest. "[Quinnipiac] is a very good team. They took it to us the whole night."
Three Quinnipiac players scored more than 20 in the game. Hearst and Umar Shannon had 25 apiece while Azotam finished with 21 points and 12 boards.
Now 14-5 and 7-3 in the MAAC, the Jaspers are back in action on Friday, January 31 at Iona in New Rochelle, N.Y. The game will be shown live on ESPNU, beginning at 9 p.m.
NOTES:
Manhattan's coaching staff wore sneakers and warmup suits in support of the Coaches vs. Cancer Awareness weekend in conjunction with the American Cancer Society ... it was the fourth overtime game for the Jaspers this season ... Manhattan owns a 3-1 record in overtime games ... Rhamel Brown entered the game ranked second in the nation in blocked shots ... he swatted away five shots against Quinnipiac ... it is the 10th time this year he has blocked four or more shots ... the Jaspers collected nine steals for the third straight game ... Emmy Andujar finished with eight points, 10 rebounds, three assists and two steals ... Michael Alvarado handed out seven assists for the second straight contest ... Donovan Kates had eight points in 15 minutes ... RaShawn Stores had nine points, four assists with no turnovers in 27 minutes ... the Jaspers committed just 12 turnovers and forced 19 Quinnipiac turnovers ... Manhattan's bench outscored Quinnipiac's bench 31-13.