Malibu, Calif. (January 2, 2007)- Patrick Bouli connected on a three pointer with one minute remaining, and Darryl Crawford added an important basket with 19 seconds remaining, as the Jaspers ended their California trip on a high note with an 89-87 win over Pepperdine University tonight at the Firestone Fieldhouse on the Waves' campus. Devon Austin posted career-high with 22 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Manhattan offense.
The first half showed the frenetic pace Pepperdine employs, as the teams combined for 27 turnovers. Neither team could take control in the early going, until with the score knotted at 15 11:00 before halftime, the Waves hit three three-pointers to take a nine point, 24-15, lead, their largest of the game, with 7:18 remaining before the break. Manhattan would gradually ship away at the lead, tying the score at 31 on a Crawford jumper in the paint with 2:56 to play in the opening stanza, and would stretch the run to 23-7 by scoring the next seven points to take a seven point lead, 38-31, 1:01 before halftime, capped by two Brandon Adams free throws. The Jaspers would hold the lead the rest of the half, taking a 40-34 advantage into the locker room.
Both teams would make adjustments in the second half, and took care of the ball much better, as each team would commit just four turnovers in the second 20 minutes. Pepperdine began the second half with a 17-10 run to regain the lead, 51-50, following a traditional three-point play by Greg Barlow with 15:06 left in the game. The Waves would extend their run to 29-16 to take a seven point, 63-56, lead with 11:28 remaining before an Austin trifecta ended the run and pulled the Jaspers within four. Austin would add another three-ball and Antoine Pearson would also connect on a shot from beyond the arc to knot the score at 65 with just under 10 minutes to play. Pepperdine would regain the lead and build a six point, 80-74, advantage with 5:01 left to play before eight straight Manhattan points would give the Jaspers a two point, 82-80, lead with less than three minutes left in the game. The teams would trade baskets until a Marvin Lea short jumper would give Pepperdine a two point, 86-84, lead with 1:34 remaining, setting up Bouli's three and Crawford's late basket. The Waves had one final chance on the game's final possession, but the referee's ruled that Chase Griffin's three pointer at the buzzer left his hand after the clock read 0:00, giving the Jaspers the hard-fought victory.
Joining Austin in double figures were Pearson (season-high 18 points), Bouli (season-high 14 points), and Crawford (12 points). Brandon Adams had his best game as a collegian, scoring eight points and pulling down seven rebounds, while Jamel Ferguson added six points and four assists.
Griffin led all scorers with a game-high 25 points, pacing four Waves in double-figures.
Manhattan shot 55% from the field and a season-high 66.7% (8-12) from beyond the arc, while also decisively winning the battle of the boards, posting a 41-21 edge on the glass.
The Jaspers return home to continue MAAC play on January 6, hosting Fairfield University at Draddy Gym as part of a double-header with the women's team. The women's game will tip at 2:00 p.m., with the men's game to follow.
