Manhattan University Athletics

Riverdale, N.Y. (January 11, 2007)- Two traditional and local rivals meet on Friday, January 12, as Manhattan and Iona battle at the Hynes Athletic Center on the Gaels' New Rochelle, N.Y. campus.  The game, slated for a 9:00 p.m. tipoff, will be aired on ESPNU, with Rob Kennedy and Doug Sherman calling all the action.

Today's Matchup: The Jaspers continue the final leg of a stretch that sees the team play nine of 11 games on the road, traveling to New Rochelle, N.Y. to take on Iona College on Friday, January 12. The game, scheduled for a 9:00 p.m. tip, will be aired on ESPNU. Iona leads the all-time series, 36-31, though Manhattan has won the last two meetings, a series sweep last year. The Jaspers have won eight of the last 13 meetings. Three of the last four games between these two perrenial MAAC powers have been decided by a total of eight points. Last year, the Jaspers defeated the Gaels in New Rochelle, 87-68, for the first time in the last eight meetings, and upended Iona at Draddy, 78-74, on the regular season's final day to earn the MAAC Regular Season Championship.

What's Next?: Following today's game, the Jaspers conclude the final leg of a stretch that sees the team play nine of 11 games on the road, traveling to Jersey City, N.J. to take on Saint Peter's College on Monday, January 15. Manhattan leads the all-time series, 60-43. The Jaspers won both regular season games last season, but the Peacocks won the third meeting in the MAAC Semifinals. Overall, Manhattan has won 12 of the last 15 meetings. Both programs have first year head coaches, as Barry Rohrssen and John Dunne are both in their first seasons, but are not strangers, as each came to the MAAC after several seasons as assistants in the Big East (Pittsburgh and Seton Hall, respectively).

All-time record: Manhattan is in its 101st season of men's basketball. The Jaspers' overall record is 1196-1030 (.537), while the team has posted a 194-194 (.500) 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.

Playing It Close: Manhattan has been in a position to win almost every game its had played this season, as eight of the Jaspers' 14 games have been decided by four points or less. Five of Manhattan's six wins have been by a combined 14 points, while three of the teams' eight losses have been by a combined eight points (NJIT, Fordham, and St. Francis).

Putting A Lid On The Basket: Coach Rohrssen stresses defense, and the Jaspers have put the clamps on several teams this year, specifically in regards to field goal percentage. In each of the Jaspers' last two games, they have held their opponents under 35% from the field, as Fairfield converted 33.9% (20-59) from the field, and Canisius made 31.9% (15-47) of its shots. Over the course of the season, Manhattan had held its opponent under 35% from the field four times, and is 3-1 in those games.

Go Artie! It's Your Birthday!: In each of the last two seasons, Manhattan has played a game on Arturo Dubois' birthday, January 6. Last season, Dubois put together a 21 point, 14 rebound, two block performance in an 87-68 Manhattan win at Iona. This year, Dubois talliied game-highs with 20 points, eight rebounds, and three blocks to help lead the Jaspers to a 58-54 win over Fairfield at Draddy Gym.

"D" Double-Figuring It Out: Sophomore Devon Austin is playing a large role in the Manhattan offense, and is currently putting together a double-figure scoring streak. Austin has reached double-digits in the scoring column in the team's last eight games, raisining his scoring average from 9.8 to 12.6 ppg in the process. He has scored at least 10 points in 10 of the Jaspers' 14 games.