Manhattan University Athletics

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Riverdale, NY - Junior Rich Williams (Brooklyn, NY / Vermont Academy (VT)) scored a career-high 27 points but it wasn't enough as Iona bested Manhattan 86-73 before a sold out crowd of 2,520 on Jack Powers Night at Draddy Gymnasium.


The Gaels improve to 18-10 and 15-4 in the MAAC while the Jaspers fall 12-16 and 9-10 in the league.


Sophomore Zane Waterman (Winston-Salem, NC / Fayetteville Academy) added 18 points and 10 rebounds in notching his fourth career double-double.

Despite the defeat, Manhattan can clinch the No. 6 seed for the upcoming MAAC Tournament with a win at Rider on Sunday, February 28 at 6:00 pm or if Canisius loses its final game.

The Jaspers came roaring out of the gates with a 14-3 spurt en route to building up a 20-5 lead with 14:05 to play until halftime thanks to Williams, who scored 13 of Manhattan's first 20 points.

Iona responded with a 14-4 run over the next four-plus minutes in trimming the deficit to 24-19 at the 9:50 mark of the opening half.

The teams would play even the rest of the half as the Jaspers assumed a 48-43 halftime advantage thanks to Williams, who scored 24 points, on 9-of-12 shooting.

Following intermission, the Gaels busted off a half-opening 8-0 run in assuming their first lead of the game at 51-48 before Waterman answered with a jumper. 

Manhattan would fight back to reclaim the lead on two occasions before the visitors ripped off a game-changing 14-3 spurt in assuming what would prove to be an insurmountable 70-60 lead with 8:53 remaining. 

The Jaspers would trim the deficit to seven on a pair of occasions before Iona put the game away with 11-straight points en route to posting the 86-73 win.

Manhattan shot 45.3 percent (24-of-53), including 38.1 percent (8-of-21) from deep. Joining Waterman and Williams in double-figures was senior Shane Richards (New York, NY / York Prep) with 17 points. Classmate RaShawn Stores (Bronx, NY / Robinson School (NJ)) added five assists and three steals in the duo's final game at Draddy Gymnasium.

Iona shot 49.2 percent (29-of-59) from the floor, including 34.4 percent (11-of-32) from deep, while forcing 20 Jasprer miscues that led to a 30-15 advantage in points off turnovers.

A.J. English paced five double-figure scorers for the Gaels with 23 points, fueled by six three pointers, to go along with six assists.

NOTES:
* Jack Powers became the first former Manhattan student-athlete to have his number retired when his number 34 was raised to the rafters at halftime.

* Richards, Stores and senior managers Joseph Carcione and Steven McGorty were also honored in a pregame ceremony for their dedication to the program.

* Williams' 27-point haul marked his sixth career 20-point performance.

* Williams averaged 21.0 ppg and 5.5 rpg over two games against Iona.