Box Score Box Score | NCAA.com Highlights | Postgame Press Conference
ORLANDO, Fla. - Trailing fourth-seeded Louisville by six points at halftime, thirteenth-seeded Manhattan ripped off an 8-0 to start the second half and held a 58-55 lead with less than four minutes to play. The Cardinals then hit three three-pointers in the final three minutes, including a pair of clutch triples by Luke Hancock as the defending national champions escaped with a 71-64 victory at the Amway Center in the Midwest Regional's round of 64 on Thursday night.
The first half was closely contested, as the Cardinals pushed their lead to as many as eight points, but the Jaspers stayed close with its own version of pressure defense, holding Louisville to 36.4 percent shooting in the first half and in the game.
To start the second half, Michael Alvarado fed Rhamel Brown inside for a layup, then the Jaspers executed a fast break to perfection, when George Beamon pushed the ball upcourt to RaShawn Stores, who dished it off to Emmy Andujar for a dunk. After a Beamon basket tied the game at 35, Andujar got to the hoop again to give the Jaspers a 37-35 lead, its first of the game.
Louisville came back to tie the game at 37 and held the lead until Andujar sank a free throw nine minutes later to tie the score at 50 with 7:43 to play.
The Cardinals regained the lead and were ahead 55-52 at the 6:27 mark before the Jaspers scored the next six points, boosted by a terrific defensive stretch, to hold a 58-55 edge with four minutes left.
With a large Manhattan College contingent leading the cheers and the initially neutral observers starting to cheer on the Jaspers, Manhattan came out of the final media timeout with a three-point lead. Louisville's Russ Smith quickly tied the game at 58 on a long three-pointer, but Tyler Wilson streaked down the court and made a nifty left-handed layup to put Manhattan back in front, 60-58 with 2:34 to go.
Wayne Blackshear converted a tough layup at the other end to tie the score at 60-60 with two minutes left. Hancock then made a series of big plays, starting with a steal in the backcourt that led to two free throws, giving Louisville a 62-60 advantage. He then buried consecutive triples on consecutive possessions to push Louisville's lead to 68-62 with 28 seconds left.
"I couldn't be prouder of these three guys [Michael Alvarado, George Beamon and Rhamel Brown] what they've done for Manhattan basketball, what they've done for the program and where they've brought it, and it's all because of them," head coach Steve Masiello said after the game. "They are everything I could ever want in a student‑athlete, and I'll never have a senior class like this again, ever.
Ashton Pankey led the Jaspers with 16 points and five rebounds, while Emmy Andujar added 13 points, five boards and four assists. Michael Alvarado ended up with 10 points and three assists in his final collegiate game.
"I thought we executed some things well," Masiello continued. "I thought Louisville bothered us. But I'm proud. I'm proud of my guys. I'm proud to coach these men."
Russ Smith had 18 points to pace Louisville, which moves on to face fifth-seeded Saint Louis, an 83-80 overtime winner over N.C. State, in the round of 32 on Saturday.
NOTES:
Manhattan finishes the season with a 25-8 record ... the 25 wins are the second most in program history, one behind the 1994-95 team that posted a 26-5 record ... the Jaspers won 16 games away from Draddy Gymnasium, tied for second most in the nation after Thursday's games ... Manhattan had lost only once since January 31 ... the senior class of Michael Alvarado, George Beamon and Rhamel Brown is the first three-member senior class in Manhattan history to score more than 1,000 points ... the trio was part of 66 wins during the last four years ... George Beamon scored 1,843 points in his career, which ranks fourth all-time ... Beamon also finished third in career steals (162) and 10th in career three-point field goals (123) ... Rhamel Brown entered the game as the active leader in career blocked shots among Division I players (367) ... Michael Alvarado finished his career with 364 assists (5th all-time) and 159 steals (5th) ... Emmy Andujar averaged 14.5 points and 5.5 rebounds over Manhattan's last eight games ... Tyler Wilson had a game-high four steals ... attendance was 14,866.
