Long Beach, Calif. (December 30, 2006)- In Manhattan College's first game on the West Coast since the 1995-96 season, the Jaspers dropped a 74-61 decision to Long Beach State University tonight at the Walter Pyramid on the LBSU campus. Devon Austin paced the Manhattan offense with 14 points.
The Jaspers had a hot shooting hand in the game's early going, racing out to a 10-0 lead after 4:30 of play. The 49ers answer with a 12-1 run of their own to take a 12-11 lead 10:11 before halftime, but Manhattan would continue its hot shooting, outscoring Long Beach State 16-8 over the next six minutes to regain and extend the lead to seven points, 27-20, with 4:14 to play before the break. The 49ers would rally with a 10-3 run to tie the score at 30 with under a minute to play in the half, before a Franck Traore layup with 28 seconds remaining allowed Manhattan to take a 32-30 lead in the locker room.
The two teams played evenly over the first five minutes of the second half, until, with Manhattan leading 43-41 following two Christian Jackson free throws with 15:39 left in the game, Long Beach State embarked on a 13-0 run, holding the Jaspers scoreless for almost seven minutes to take an 11 point lead, 54-43, with 8:50 left in the game. Manhattan would draw no closer than six the rest of the way, as the 49ers converted on their free throws down the stretch to emerge with the win.
Darryl Crawford (11 points in reaching double-figures for the seventh straight game) and Antoine Pearson (10 points) joined Austin in double-figures. Guy Ngarndi pulled down a game-high nine rebounds as the Jaspers held a 40-32 advantage in the battle of the boards.
Aaron Nixon led all scorers with 15 points, leading four Long Beach State players in double-figures.
Manhattan concludes its West Coast trip on January 2, when the Jaspers take on Pepperdine University in Malibu, Calif. at 5:00 PT.
