Manhattan University Athletics

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RIVERDALE, N.Y. - Manhattan opened the second half with a game-changing 21-3 run en route to posting a 78-69 win over Canisius in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) action at Draddy Gymnasium.

With their fourth-straight victory and the eighth in 10 games, the Jaspers improve to 12-10 and 9-4 in the MAAC while the Golden Griffins fall to 12-10 and 7-6 in the league.

Senior Emmy Andujar (Bronx, N.Y. / Rice) scored a team-best 20 points while hitting for at least 20 for the seventh time in nine games to pace four double-figure scorers for the victors.

Leading 30-28 at the break, Manhattan posted one of its most dominating stretches of the season over the first 9:17 of the second half. The Jaspers outscored Canisius 21-3 while forcing the Golden Griffins into nine-straight missed shots and seven turnovers in opening up a game-high 20-point lead.

Junior Shane Richards (New York, N.Y. / York Prep) opened the scoring with a three pointer before Canisius was forced into a 10-second violation. Andujar took advantage of the miscue with a jumper before splitting a pair at the line. 

Sophomore Rich Williams (Brooklyn, N.Y. / Vermont Academy (Vt.)) then made the visitors pay with two three pointers, including this incredible triple, off turnovers. Junior Ashton Pankey (Bronx, N.Y. / Maryland) followed with a bucket while notching the 14th-straight Manhattan point to extend the lead to 44-28 with 14:12 remaining in the game.

Kassius Robertson briefly quelled the spurt with a free throw before Pankey completed a three-point play and Andujar hit a layup. Jermaine Crumpton then sank a pair from the line before freshman Calvin Crawford (Middletown, N.Y. / St. Thomas More (Conn.) capped the 21-3 spurt with a layup while opening up an insurmountable 51-31 lead with 11:35 to play.

Crumpton hit two more from the line and Zach Lewis converted a three-point play to stop the bleeding while cutting the deficit to 51-36 with 10:43 remaining.

The Golden Griffins would methodically chip away at the lead and trimmed Manhattan lead to 73-69 with less than a minute to play. Robertson then stole the ball and appeared to be headed for an easy layup when Andujar came in from behind to block the shot. Richards collected the rebounded and sank two free throws as the Jaspers ended the game on a 5-0 run to provide the final 78-69 score.

Manhattan pressured Canisius into a season-high 20 turnovers white forcing at least 20 for the seventh time this season. The Jaspers also had 12 steals while recording at least 10 for the third-straight game and fifth time this year.

Andujar pulled down nine rebounds while handing out seven assists to go along with his aforementioned team-best 20-point performance. Pankey also had a big game with 18 points and nine rebounds while Richards finished with 16 points. Williams led the reserves with a career-high 16 points and was 4-of-5 from long range.

For the game, Manhattan limited Canisius into just 31.1 percent (19-of-61) shooting, including a paltry 27.8 percent (5-of-18) from deep. The Jaspers, meanwhile, shot a solid 44.4 percent (24-of-54) from the field and were 77.4 percent (24-of-31) at the line, including 80.8 percent (21-of-26) after halftime.

Lewis paced the Golden Griffins with 25 points while Josiah Heath notched a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds.

Manhattan will look to make it five in a row while avenging a prior loss to Rider on Sunday, Feb. 8. Opening tip at Alumni Gymnasium is slated for 2 p.m.

Notes:
* Manhattan improved to 8-5 in games decided by 10 points or less, including 7-1 during MAAC play.

* The Jaspers swept the season series from Canisius and has won each of the last five meetings between the teams.

* Manhattan also improved to 53-33 in the all-time series against the Golden Griffins, including 34-18 since the Buffalo-based institution joined the MAAC ifor the 1988-1989 season.

* The Jaspers are now 13-2 in February/March since last season and 19-5 since the 2012-2013 season.

* Manhattan improved to 15-1 over the last two seasons when registering at least 10 steals and are 26-4 during Steve Masiello's tenure on Riverdale, including 18-1 against MAAC opposition.

* The Jaspers improved to a perfect 10-0 when leading at the half.

* When playing at Draddy Gymnasium, Manhattan is 7-1 this year and has won 11-of-12 and 16-of-18.

* The senior class has now notched 72 wins, tied for eighth-most in school history.

* Andujar has now recorded at least 20 points nine times this season and 11 for his career.

* His 20-point haul also marked the ninth-straight game in which a Jasper has recorded at least 20.