Buffalo, NY - Senior Shane Richards (New York, NY / York Prep) scored a career-high 32 points on just 14 shots in leading Manhattan to a decisive 94-86 victory over Canisius at the Koessler Athletic Center.
Richards' big day fueled an offensive attack that converted a blistering 63.2 percent (14-of-22) on threes from long range while falling one short of the school record of 15 set on February 27, 1994 in a 102-58 win against Niagara at Draddy Gymasnium.
The Jaspers won for the third-straight time and the fifth time in six games in moving to 6-8 and 3-2 in the MAAC while the Golden Griffins fall to 7-8 and 2-3 in the league.
In four career games at the Koessler Athletic Center, Richards is now averaging 20.5 points per game while shooting 68.2 percent (28-of-41) from the field, including 67.7 percent (21-of-31) from long range.
After Canisius took what would prove to be its final lead of the game at 56-55 with 12:53 to play in the second half, Manhattan put together one of its most impressive offensive performances of the year. Over the final 12-plus minutes, the Jaspers converted offensively on 17 of their final 20 possession whlie going 11-of-17 (.647) from the floor and 5-of-7 (.714) from distance before making good 11-of-12 (.917) from the line over the final 1:19.
Despite the impressive showing, the Golden Griffins were able to trim the deficit to 75-73 with 5:13 to play following an Isaiah Gurley three pointer. Senior RaShawn Stores (Bronx, NY / Robinson School (NJ)) immediately answered with a three of his own. After forcing a stop on the defensive end, Richards grabbed an offensive rebound before finding Calvin Crawford (So., Middletown, NY / St. Thomas More (CT)) for a layup in stretching the lead out to 80-73 with 3:26 to play.
Malcolm McMillan briefly quelled the momentum with a pair from the line before Richards canned his sixth and final three pointer while kickstarting a game-clinching 8-0 run that stretched the lead out to 13 at 88-75 with 53 seconds remaining.
Lost in Richards' offensive explosion was junior Rich Williams' (Brooklyn, NY / Vermont Academy (VT)) third double-double (19 points, 11 rebounds) of the year to go along with a career-high five assists. Crawford added 13 points and five rebounds while Stores had 11 points in giving Manhattan four double-figure scorers for the third-straight game.
In the first half, Canisius jumped out to a 13-6 lead before Williams canned this three pointer off of one of Tyler Wilson's (Jr., Bronx, NY / Cardinal Hayes) game-high seven assists and Richards followed with this three pointer.
Later in the half, Canisius was up five while appearing poised to break the game open with just over six minutes until halftime and Richards was on the bench with three fouls. However, Manhattan flipped the script, ripping off a 11-1 run in assuming a 34-29 lead with 4:03 until halftime.
Williams hit this jumper before freshman Thomas Capuano (Hastings-on-Hudson, NY / Iona Prep) followed with a three of his own. After Canisius momentarily quelled the bleeding with a free throw, Stores canned this three pointer before following suit with this triple in capping the game-changing spurt.
The Golden Griffins would trim the lead to 41-38 at the break and would continue to fight the rest of the way.
Phil Valenti paced Canisius with 26 points and seven rebounds while McMillan added 17 points.
Manhattan returns to action on Saturday, January 9 at Niagara on Time Warner Cable with opening tip slated for 3:00 pm.
Notes:
* Head Coach Steve Masiello improved to 15-2 (8-1 HC) against Canisius while a member of the Jasper program.
* Masiello is now 60-32 (.652), all-time, against MAAC opposition.
* Richards' 32 points marks the first 30-plus point performance by a Jasper since George Beamon had 31 against Monmouth on February 19, 2014. The 32 are also the most since current staff member Michael Alvarado had 33 against Marist on January 12, 2014.
* The 14 three pointers are the most since converting 14 in a 105-98 four quadruple overtime loss at Canisius on January 31, 2000.
* Manhattan also has hit for at least 90 points in back-to-back games for the first time since going for 102 in a win over Niagara (2/27/94) beore scoring 99 points in a MAAC Tournament victory over Iona (3/5/94).