Highland Heights, KY - Despite a career-high 12 points and seven rebounds from freshman Warren Williams (Kingston, Jamaica / St. Benedict's Prep (NJ)), Manhattan (1-3) fell to Northern Kentucky (5-0) by a 59-53 count at the KEMI NKU Basketball Classic.
Trailing by 17 points with 6:30 to play, the Jasper defense buckled down and held the Norse without a field goal over the final 6:30 while cutting the deficit to five in just over three minutes with 12-straight points.
After Dantez Walton hit a three pointer to give NKU its largest advantage of the night at 56-39, sophomore Ebube Ebube (San Juan, Puerto Rico / Lawrenceville Academy (NJ)) immediately canned a triple. After forcing the Norse into turnovers on their next two possessions, senior Thomas Capuano (Hastings-on-Hudson, NY / Iona Prep) hit a three of his own off a Nehemiah Mack (So., Harrisburg, PA / Massanutten Prep (VA)) pass. Following another NKU miscue, Williams split a pair at the line and the next time down the floor resulted in a Jasper stop. Ebube took advantage, hitting a running layup to make it a 56-48 game at the final media timeout of the night (3:44-2nd).
Immediately following the stoppage, Ebube hit Capuano off a curl and the senior tri-captain buried a 22-footer to trim it to 56-51 with 3:14 remaining. Manhattan had its opportunities to further dent the lead down the stretch, but could get no closer.
For the second-straight game, the Jaspers owned the glass by a 35-32 count, including 12-6 on the offensive end, while posting a dominating 24-12 advantage in the paint. Additionally, Manhattan forced 18 miscues that led to a 17-12 advantage in points off turnovers.
Drew McDonald paced NKU with 19 points and eight rebounds while Dantez Walton added 15 and seven caroms.
Notes
* The Norse were able to only attempt two shots over the final 6:30 while turning it over five times as Manhattan went 5-for-12, including 3-for-4 from long range, in outscoring its hosts by a 14-3 count during that time.
* Williams was 5-for-9 from the floor and scored 10 of his team-high 12 points after intermission.
* Offensively, the Jasper starters outscored the reserves for the first time this season (30-23).
* Capuano had nine points and four rebounds while Ebube had another strong game with eight points and five rebounds, four of which were on the offensive end.
* Freshmen guards Tykei Greene (Queens, NY / Long Island Lutheran) and Samir Stewart (Fort Lauderdale, FL / American Heritage) each had seven points.
* Manhattan drew a season-high five offensive fouls, including three by Ebube.
* The Jasper freshmen combined for 29 points, 16 rebounds, three assists, four steals and one block.
* NKU held a slim 25-19 lead at the break.
Up Next
* Manhattan will conclude play at the KEMI Northern Kentucky Classic against UNC Asheville on Sunday, November 18 at 3:30 pm.