Box Score Box Score (PDF) | Box Score (HTML) | JSN Postgame | JSN Highlights
Riverdale, NY - Senior
Rich Williams (Brooklyn, NY / Vermont Academy (VT)) scored a game-high 20 points and sophomore
Aaron Walker Jr. (Brooklyn, NY / Cardozo) scored all 11 of his points in the final six minutes of the game in leading Manhattan to a thrilling 73-69 win over Harvard at Draddy Gymnasium.
With the victory, the Jaspers move to 2-0 for the first time since their MAAC Championship season of 2013-2014 while the Crimson fall to 2-2.
In the opening stanza, Manhattan opened up a 40-25 lead at intermission thanks to a pair of big runs. With the score tied at 10-10 at the 12:11 mark, Williams canned a three in sparking a 11-2 spurt before the Jaspers would later embark on a 17-2 run in opening up their largest advantage of the game at 40-22 with 1:17 until halftime.
All told, Manhattan shot 57.1 percent (16-of-28) from the floor, including 85.7 percent (6-of-7) from deep, while limiting the visitors to 13.3 percent (2-of-15) from long range. Williams and fellow senior
Calvin Crawford (Middletown, NY / St. Thomas More (CT)) each had 14 points to lead the offense in the opening stanza.
After the Jaspers began the second half with a bucket, Harvard ripped off 12-straight points in cutting the deficit to five with 15:31 remaining. The Crimson would continue to hang around and fought all the way back to take a 59-53 lead with 6:11 to play.
Harvard appeared to be in control when Walker Jr. for all intents and purposes took over. The Brooklyn native canned a three pointer. With the deficit still at three, he drew a foul and hit a pair at the line with 3:59 to play. Then after a defensive stop, Walker Jr. reclaimed the lead with another triple. After the Crimson briefly tied the game, Walker found Williams for a three pointer as Manhattan would never trail the rest of the way. Senior
Zane Waterman (Winston-Salem, NC / Fayetteville Academy) would put the game on ice with a pair of free throws with six seconds to play in providing the final 73-69 count.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- Williams has now hit for at least 20 points on nine occasions in his Manhattan career while notching at least 20 in back-to-back games for just the second time.
- It was also the ninth 20-point performance of his career.
- He also drained a career-high five three pointers.
- Crawford's double-double (19 points, 10 rebounds) is the second of his career with the other coming at Saint Peter's (15 points, 12 rebounds) on February 17, 2016.
- The senior class of Crawford, senior
Zavier Turner (Indianapolis, IN / Ball State), Waterman and Williams combined for 53 points, 22 rebounds and 12 assists.
- Turner had a game-high seven assists.
- Manhattan shot 49.0 percent (25-of-51 from the field and 58.8 percent (10-of-17) from long range.
- The Jaspers avenged a 34-point loss to Harvard in the teams' last match-up on November 16, 2012.
- Manhattan closed out the game by going 4-of-5 from the floor (3-of-4, 3-pt) over the final six minutes of action.
- Head Coach
Steve Masiello is now 51-22 at home, but will play in the friendly confines of Draddy Gymnasium just once in the next 40 days (Morgan State-12/9).
- Harvard held a 50-14 advantage in bench points and was led by 17 points from Seth Towns.
UP NEXT
- Manhattan will travel to the Sunshine State to take part in the Gulf Coast Showcase and square off with UMKC on Monday, November 20 at 11:00 am.
