Manhattan University Athletics

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Riverdale, NY - Junior Thomas Capuano (Hastings-on-Hudson, NY / Iona Prep) scored 15 of his team-high 17 points after halftime on the strength of a career-high five three pointers but it wasn't enough as Manhattan dropped a 82-76 decision to Rider in MAAC action at Draddy Gymnasium.
 
The Broncs improve to 10-6 and 3-1 in the MAAC while the Jaspers fall to 7-9 and 2-2 in the league.

Senior Zavier Turner (Indianapolis, IN / Ball State) added 16 points and a career-high nine assists while classmates Zane Waterman (Winston-Salem, NC / Fayetteville Academy) and Rich Williams (Brooklyn, NY / Vermont Academy (VT)) each chipped in with 14 points to round out the double-figure scorers for Manhattan.

Late in the first, Rider held a 28-21 advantage with 5:06 until halftime when Manhattan made its move with a 14-3 half-ending run in taking a four-point lead at intermission. Freshman Patrick Strzala (Bayonne, NJ / Bayonne) started the spurt when he beat the shot clock with a deep corner three. After the Broncs split a pair from the line, Turner knocked down a pair of free throws before finding Williams for a triple in drawing the Jaspers even at 29-29 at the 2:09 mark.

Senior Calvin Crawford (Middletown, NY / St. Thomas More (CT)) split a pair at the line before Rider briefly reclaimed the lead as Williams knocked down another three pointer. Turner would extend the Manhattan halftime advantage out to 35-31 with two free throws after drawing a foul on a late three-point attempt.

The 15-minute intermission did little to quell the Jasper momentum as Williams and Capuano opened the second half with back-to-back three pointers in stretching the lead out to 41-31 while forcing a quick Bronc timeout. The advantage would grow to 11 on five occasions as Manhattan made good on 9-of-11 to open the second half.

Rider contiinued to attack before fighting back to take a 66-64 lead with 6:32 to play before Waterman answered with a dunk and Capuano hit a deep three in giving the Jaspers a 69-66 lead with just over five minutes remaining.

The lead would grow to 71-67 with 4:16 to play before the Broncs rallied with nine-straight points in opening up a five-point advantage with 2:10 to play. Down but not out, Capuano canned his fifth triple of the half and after the defense held strong, Waterman drained a pair from the line to knot it up at 76-76 with 1:07 to play.

Unfortunately, Rider would respond with the final six points of the game in pulling out the 82-76 win.

Tyree Marshall had 20 points and 13 rebounds while Frederick Scott added 19 points and 14 rebounds off the bench to pace the Broncs, which shot 53.0 percent (35-of-66) from the floor.

Manhattan will next be in action at Fairfield on Thursday, January 11 with opening tip tabbed for 7:00 pm.