Riverdale, NY (December 9, 2004)- Manhattan senior co-captain
Peter Mulligan notched a career-high 35 points to lead the Jaspers to a 85-70 win over the visiting Siena College Saints tonight at Draddy Gym. The Jaspers used big runs to begin each half to post their first MAAC win of the season and improve to 4-2, 1-1 in MAAC play. The Saints fall to 0-7, 0-1 in MAAC play.
Manhattan scored the first eight points of the game, and led by 22, 30-8, with 9:15 to go before the break. Siena responded with a 18-3 run to pull within seven, 33-26, with 3:05 to play, and trailed by just eight, 39-31, with 27 seconds left in the half following a Michael Haddix free throw, but Manhattan scored the last four points of the half, the final two on a buzzer-beating layup by
Kenny Minor, to take back the momentum and head into the half with a 43-31 lead.
The second half began much like the first, as Manhattan used a 14-5 run to begin the second stanza to bring he lead back to over 20 points, capped by a
Mike Konovelchick three to give the Jaspers a 57-36 lead with 14:15 remaining in the game. The Manhattan lead would not grow larger than 22 points or dip below 17 until there was just over one minute left.
Mulligan's career-high came on 11-15 shooting from the floor and 10-13 from the charity stripe. Joining Mulligan in double figures were Konovelchick (19 points) and
Kenny Minor (10 points, three assists).
Michael Haddix led the Saints with 21 points and a game-high 10 caroms. Kojo Mensah added 10 points.
The Jaspers shot 61.5% (16-26) from the field in the first half and 56.3% (27-48) for the game.
Manhattan breaks for exams and will return to the hardwood on Tuesday, December 21, when the Jaspers travel to Tucson, AZ to battle Pac 10 member, and nationally ranked Arizona in a game that will tip at 8:30 p.m. eastern. The game will be televised on RNN.
