Manhattan University Athletics

Riverdale, N.Y. (December 20, 2006)- After taking 11 days off for exams, the Manhattan College men's basketball team returns to action with a road game at St. Francis-N.Y. College on Thursday, December 21.  The game is slated to begin at 7:00 p.m. at the Brooklyn, N.Y. school's Peter Aquilone Court.

Today's Matchup: The Jaspers took a break for exams, and return to the road for a three game road trip, beginning tonight, December 21 in Brooklyn, N.Y., taking on St. Francis-N.Y. at 7:00 p.m. Manhattan leads the all-time series, 50-17, and have won the last three meetings, and seven of the last eight, in a series that dates back to the 1904-05 seaon, the first season for Manhattan College Basketball. The series resumed last season after an 18-year hiatus, with the Jaspers taking an 89-78 victory at Draddy Gym. Head Coach Barry Rohrssen played and coached at St. Francis, assistant coach Ron Ganulin served as the Terrier's head coach from 1991-2005, and assistant coach Edgar De La Rosa played his collegiate basketball for St. Francis.

What's Next?: Following today's game, the Jaspers will continue a three-game road swing that will take them to the West Coast for the New Year. The trip to the West Coast begins on Saturday, December 30, as the Jaspers take on Long Beach State in a return game from last season's BracketBuster matchup. The 49ers won the only meeting, last season at Draddy Gym, 108-94. Arturo Dubois (27 points) and Devon Austin (20 points) both either matched or surpassed their career-highs in the game. The top players from the first 100 season of Manhattan basketball were honored in a halftime ceremony. The Jaspers will meet Pepperdine in the first ever meeting between the two programs on January 2. The games mark the first for Manhattan in California since the 1996-97 season (vs. Stanford at the ARCO Arena).

All-time record: Manhattan is in its 101st season of men's basketball. The Jaspers' overall record is 1193-1028 (.537), while the team has posted a 192-194 (.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.

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.

Familiar Faces, Familiar Places: Tha coaching staff for the Jaspers should know several of their opponents well, as the current Manhattan staff has worked for the men's basketball programs at three school on the Jaspers' schedule this season. Assistant Coach John Alesi served as a graduate assistant at Hofstra University in the 2003-04 season. Assistant Coach Edgar De La Rosa served as an assistant coach at Fordham University from 1994-99, assistant coach Ron Ganulin served as an assistant coach at Saint Peter's College from 1982-85, and Ganulin and head coach Barry Rohrssen coached at St. Francis-N.Y. College. Ganulin was the head coach for the Terriers from 1991-2005, while Rohrssen served as an assistant coach at St. Francis from 1993-95. Both Rohrssen and De La Rosa graduted from St. Francis in 1983, and both played basketball for the Terriers.

Spreading Out The Points...: Through the Jaspers' first nine games, five different players have led the team in scoring, paced by Arturo Dubois (4 games). Darryl Crawford has led the team twice, while Guy Ngarndi, Antoine Pearson, and Devon Austin have each led Manhattan in scoring once.

...And The Rebounds: Through the Jaspers' first nine games, five different players have led or have been tied for the team lead in rebounding. Devon Austin has led the team in rebounding four times, while Arturo Dubois and Guy Ngarndi have have each paced Manhattan in rebounding twice. Jamel Ferguson and Patrick Bouli have each led the team in rebounding once.

Spreading Out The Minutes, Too: Eight Manhattan players are averaging 18 or more minutes a game, paced by Devon Austin, who is averaging 32.6 mpg. All eight players (Dubois, Ngarndi, Crawford, C. Jackson, Ferguson, Pearson, and Austin) have started at least one game. Austin and Crawford are the only players averaging over 30 minutes per game.