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Detroit, MI - Junior
Zavier Turner (Indianapolis, IN / Ball State) scored a career-high 32 points and senior
Tyler Wilson (Bronx, NY / Cardinal Hayes) drew a game-clinching charge with 7.7 seconds remaining in the second overtime as Manhattan posted a thrilling 84-81 win over Detroit Mercy at Calihan Hall.
The Jaspers improve to 2-3 with the win while the Titans fall to 1-5.
Manhattan will next conclude NIT Season Tip-Off action against No. 17 West Virginia in Morgantown on Monday, November 28 at 7:00 pm in a game that will be broadcast by
Root Sports.
In a match-up that was tied after the first half, regulation and the first overtime, the Jaspers prevailed on the road thanks to a solid team effort fueled by multiple players.
Manhattan appeared to have the game in hand at the end of the second half as junior
Zane Waterman (Winston-Salem, NC / Fayetteville Academy) canned a three pointer to put the Jaspers up four with 3:50 to play.
Detroit Mercy, however, immediately answered and would methodically chip away at the deficit until the Titans tied the game up at 65-65 on a DeShawndre Black free throw with 14 seconds remaining while ultimately forcing overtime.
In the first overtime, the Jaspers quickly went up 68-65 at the 3:27 mark thanks to a
Thomas Capuano (So., Hastings-on-Hudson, NY / Iona Prep) jumper and a Turner free throw. Detroit Mercy quickly answered with a jumper en route to ripping off seven-straight points in building a 72-68 lead with 58 seconds to play. Down but not out, Turner canned a pair at the line before the Titans were held at bay on the next possession.
However, on the ensuing trip down the court Manhattan was unable to take advantage as Detroit Mercy appeared to be in good shape, heading to the line with 12 seconds to play in the first overtime. However, Jaleel Hogan misfired on both free throws and freshman
Aaron Walker Jr. (Brooklyn, NY / Cardozo) was fouled with 0.7 seconds to play.
With ice water in his veins, the reigning MAAC Rookie of the Week calmly sank both free throws to tie the game up at 72-72 while sending the game to double overtime.
In the second overtime, neither team could shake free until Turner gave the Jaspers what would prove to be an insurmountable 83-81 lead with 1:57 to play. However, while Manhattan would ultimately prevail the final two-plus minutes wouldn't be without drama.
The Titans missed a pair at the line and were unable to convert on two Jasper turnovers, the second of which came with 10 seconds remaining. After the second Manhattan miscue, Josh McFolley appeared to have a clear path to the basket but Wilson secured outstanding defensive position in drawing the aforementioned charge. Wilson was then fouled and split a pair before Detroit Mercy misfired on a last-second attempt from long range.
For the game, the Jaspers shot 49.1 percent (28-of-57) from the floor and 44.4 percent (8-of-18) from long range while winning the rebounding battle (42-33) for the fifth-straight game to start the year.
Turner led all players with 32 points on 10-of-16 from the floor, including 3-of-5 from deep, and 9-of-11 from the line while adding six assists over 44 minutes of action. Waterman had another strong game with 15 points and eight rebounds while junior
Calvin Crawford (Middletown, NY / St. Thomas More (CT)) added 10 points and seven rebounds.
Junior
Ahmed Ismail (Cairo, Egypt / Colby CC) also pulled down a game and career-high 11 rebounds to go along with four blocks while sophomore
Ak Ojo (Lagos, Nigeria / Cardinal Hayes (NY)) had a career-high nine points.
Hogan paced five double-digit scorers for Titans with 19 points and a game-high nine rebounds.
