Riverdale, NY (November 23, 2004)- Manhattan overcame a seven-point halftime deficit to defeat the Rhode Island Rams, 67-58, tonight at Draddy Gym. The Jaspers outscored the Rams 44-28 in the second half behind 12 second half points from freshman Arturo Dubois and 11 second half points from junior co-captain Jason Wingate.
Manhattan (2-0) led by six, 11-5, 5:27 into the game before Rhode Island (1-1) used an 8-2 run to knot the score at 13-13 with 11:05 to go before the break. The two teams battled back and forth before, with the score tied at 25-25 with 2:40 to go before the half, the Rams' Scott Hazelton scored seven straight points to put Rhode Island up 30-23 at the half.
Hazelton poured in 13 first half points as the Rams shot 44.0% (11-25) from the field, while holding the Jaspers to 27.6% (8-29) shooting.
Five straight Manhattan points to open the second half cut the deficit to just two, 30-28, with 17:16 to play. Rhode Island was able to push the lead back to six, 36-30, with 15:38 remaining before 10-2 run, capped by a Kenny Minor layup, to regain the lead, 40-38, with 12:37 left. The teams traded baskets over the next three minutes before, with Manhattan trailing by two, 42-40, Wingate connected on three straight three pointers to give the Jaspers a 51-44 lead with 8:24 remaining. Manhattan pushed the lead to 12, 58-46, with 5:14 to play on a Minor three pointer, and the Rams could get no closer than seven the rest of the way.
Peter Mulligan (14 points) and Dubois (14 points, five rebounds, and four blocks) paced four Jaspers in double figures. Joining the duo in double digits were CJ Anderson (12 points, seven boards, six assists, and four steals), and Wingate, who tallied all 11 of his points in the second half. Mike Konovelchick chipped in with nine points and a game-high eight rebounds. The Jaspers outrebounded the Rams 37-31, including 19 on the offensive glass.
Hazelton led all scorers with a game-high 23, and was joined in double-figures for Rhode Island by Randy Brooks, who added 11 points.
Manhattan returns to action when the Jaspers take on Bronx rival Fordham in the Battle of the Bronx on Saturday, November 27. Tipoff is slated for 7:00 p.m.