Riverdale, N.Y. (December 1, 2006)- In 1995, the Manhattan College men's basketball team traveled in Memphis, Tenn. for the NCAA Tournament, and defeated nationally ranked Oklahoma in the First Round. 11 years later, the Jaspers return to the "Home of Rock and Roll" to take on another nationally ranked team, the University of Memphis.
Today's Matchup: The Jaspers continue a stretch of six of seven on the road by traveling to Memphis, Tenn. to take on the nationally ranked University of Memphis Tigers. The game will mark just the third meeting between the two programs, and the first since the 1957-58 season. The all-time series is knotted at 1-1, with Memphis taking a 85-73 decision in the 1957 NIT, and the Jaspers downing the Tigers, 88-69, the next year during the regular season.
What's Next?:
Following today's game, the Jaspers continue a stretch of six of seven on the road, and begin MAAC play, by traveling to Bridgeport, Conn. to take on Fairfield University on Friday, December 8 at 7:30 p.m. Manhattan leads the all-time series, 41-33, including a season sweep last season, taking a 74-69 decision on the road, and edging the Stags, 78-77, at home, thanks to a Devon Austin block at the buzzer. Both programs have first year head coaches.
All-time record:
Manhattan is in its 101st season of men's basketball. The Jaspers' overall record is 1192-1026 (.537), while the team has posted a 191-193 (.497) record over 25 seasons of MAAC play. The men's basketball program was established in 1904-05 and has taken two seasons off (1943-44 and 1944-45) due to World War II. In 55 of the program's 100 seasons, including the last five seasons, the Jaspers have posted a .500 or better record.
Winning The Battle Of The Boards:
First year head coach Barry Rohrssen has preached the value of hitting the glass hard to his young team, and they have responded, outrebounding their opponents in five of their first six games (83.3%). Over the previous four seasons, the year that the Jaspers outrebounded their opponents the most frequently was in the 2003-04 season, where Manhattan pulled down more rebounds than its opponent 58.1% of the time. In the last five-plus seasons, Manhattan is 43-12 (79.6%) in games it has outrebounded its opponent.
Jaspers Live on the Internet:
For the ninth consecutive year, Manhattan College's men's basketball games will be broadcast live via the Internet. In partnership with Stretch Internet, followers of Manhattan basketball can now access the live play-by-play of all Jasper games. A link to the broadcast is available on Manhattan College's website (GoJaspers.com). Ed Cohen and Brian Mahoney will serve as the voices of Jasper basketball. Each broadcast will begin with the "Coach's Pre-Game Report" 15 minutes prior to tip-off.
