Albany, NY - Freshman Warren Williams (Kingston, Jamaica / St. Benedict's Prep) scored a career-high 27 points, but it wasn't enough as No. 7 Manhattan dropped a 69-65 overtime heartbreaker to No. 2 Canisius in the quarterfinal round of the 2019 MAAC Championship at the Time Union Center.
In the extra session, the Golden Griffins scored on each of their first three possessions in securing a 65-60 advantage with 2:45 remaining. Down but not out, freshman Tykei Greene (Queens, NY / Long Island Lutheran) hit a free throw, before the defense held firm on back-to-back possessions. Williams then collected an offensive rebound and slammed it back home with 39.3 seconds remaining to draw the Jaspers to within two.
Unfortunately, on the ensuing possession Malik Johnson's running layup with 8.4 seconds proved to much for Manhattan to overcome, as Canisius would hang on to win by a 69-65 count.Williams now with a game-high 28 points as Canisius leads 65-63 with 25.9 to play in the first OT. pic.twitter.com/Y12FFwP05Y
— Manhattan Basketball (@JaspersMBB) March 9, 2019
In the first half, Manhattan came roaring out of the gates to the tune of 56.5 percent shooting (13-of-23) in taking a 32-25 lead at the break. Williams was an absolute machine, going a perfect 7-for-7 from the floor en route to finishing up with 16 points
After halftime, junior Tyler Reynolds (Syracuse, NY / Harcum College) canned a triple, before feeding Williams for a layup in extending the advantage out to a game-high 12 at 37-25 with 18:53 to play while forcing a Golden Griffin timeout.
Manhattan with seven-straight to open the second half. Now up 37-25 on Canisius with 18:52 to play in regulation. pic.twitter.com/vamCp6X8SX
— Manhattan Basketball (@JaspersMBB) March 9, 2019
Canisius continued to battle and trimmed it to 49-47 with 8:13 remaining when sophomore Nehemiah Mack (Harrisburg, PA / Massanutten Prep (VA)) hit a huge three pointer with the shot clock winding down, before canning a pair at the line in extending the advantage out to seven with just over five to play. However, the Golden Griffins ripped off a 10-3 run to force overtime, but not before Williams had his game-winning attempt blocked at the buzzer.
Jibreel Faulkner paced the Golden Griffins with 20 points and eight rebounds while Jalanni White (16), Takal Molson (15) and Johnson (11) finished in double-figures.
The Jaspers end the season with an 11-21 record while Canisius improves to 15-16.
Notes
* Williams' game-high 27 points are the most by a Manhattan player since Zavier Turner had 31 points in a 92-86 win vs. Quinnipiac on February 25, 2017.
* The Jaspers had six different players hit the 20-point mark this season.
* Williams averaged 12.9 ppg over his final nine games of the year while shooting 64.3 percent (45-of-70) from the floor.
* He also hit for double-figures in scoring a team-high 16 times, including seven-straight to end the season, and paced the squad in scoring at 9.2 ppg while shooting a MAAC-best 57.1 percent.
* Mack scored 13 points, fueled by 3-of-4 shooting from distance, with three assists.
Media (3:28) | Mack's three to beat the shot clock takes us into our final controlled stoppage of the night.
— Manhattan Basketball (@JaspersMBB) March 9, 2019
Manhattan 54 Canisius 53 pic.twitter.com/C5FSSVikcY
* Greene had a team-high seven rebounds while freshman Christian Hinckson (Queens, NY / Tilton School (NH)) had a career-high five steals with five rebounds and three assists.
* Senior Thomas Capuano (Hastings-on-Hudson, NY / Iona Prep) had five points in his final collegiate game while classmate Samson Usilo (Lagos, Nigeria / Nazareth (NY)) pulled down five rebounds.
* 17 of Manhattan's 32 games were decided by 10 points or less in 2018-19, including 10 by five or less.
* The Jasper newcomers accounted for 62.6 percent of the team's scoring and 51.4 percent of the rebounding this season.