Fargo, N.D. (December 18, 2005)- Manhattan won its third straight game, and second consecutive road game, with a, 76-62, win over North Dakota State tonight at the Bison Sports Arena on the NDSU campus.
CJ Anderson and
Jeff Xavier each tallied 19 points to pace the Jasper attack, as Manhattan improves to 3-4 overall, while the Bison fall to 5-6.
The first half saw a see-saw battle, as the game saw eight ties and five lead changes. Neither team could find much offensive rhythm, as the first half whistle was unkind to the Jaspers, with Manhattan being whistled for 16 first half fouls. NDSU took advantage, scoring 19 of their 31 first half points from the line, while Manhattan stayed in the game with suffocating defense, allowing just one Bison hoop over the last 11:52 of the opening stanza. The Jaspers trailed by six, 29-23, the largest lead of the game for the Bison, before an
Arturo Dubois layup, a three pointer from
Devon Austin, and two
Kenny Minor free throws gave Manhattan a one point lead, 30-29, with 1:00 left before the break. Two free throws from Andre Smith gave NDSU a one point lead, 31-30, at the intermission,
Manhattan came out the locker room with renewed vigor, implementing a full-court press, following Smith's jumper to open the second half. Austin started an 8-0 Jasper run with a block and assisted
CJ Anderson's fast break layup, before stealing the ball on the next possession and feeding
Jason Wingate for a layup. Wingate then returned the favor, coming up with a steak on the ensuing possession and feeding Austin for a third consecutive fast break layup, causing the Bison to call a timeout. Anderson finished off the run with a layup to give Manhattan a five point lead, 38-33, with 17:49 left in the game.
The Jaspers kept up the pressure defense, causing 11 second half turnovers as they slowly expanded their lead. Manhattan would go up by 10, 60-50, after an Anderson layup with 9:49 to go, and would not allow the lead to dip into single digits the rest of the way, leading by as many as 17 on two occasions.
Anderson added a team-high eight rebounds and three steals to his 19 points, 14 of which came in the decisive second stanza. Xavier would add five boards, three assists, and two steals to his offensive totals. Dubois tallied 12 points, five caroms, and a career-high six blocks. Wingate recorded 11 points and four assists, and
Kenny Minor added seven points and a game-high six assists, as Manhattan posted season-highs with 18 assists and 11 blocks.
Smith paced NDSU with a game-high 21 points.
Manhattan concludes its Dakotas swing, taking on South Dakota State on Tuesday, December 20 at 7:00 p.m. CST in Sioux Falls, S.D.
