Manhattan University Athletics

Riverdale, N.Y. (January 5, 2007)- After spending New Year's in California, the Manhattan College men's basketball team returns to the East Coast to resume MAAC play, hosting Fairfield University on Saturday, January 6. The game, the second half of a double-header with the Manhattan women's team, will begin 20 minutes after the completion of the women's game.  The women's game is slated to begin at 2:00 p.m.

Today's Matchup: After spending New Year's in California, the Jaspers travel back to the East Coast to resume MAAC play, having completed all but one of the Jaspers' non-conference games. With just the Bracket Buster Game left, Manhattan gets back to conference play on Saturday, January 6, hosting Fairfield University at 4:00 p.m. at Draddy Gym in the second game of a double header with the women's team. On December 8, the Jaspers and Stags opened MAAC play, with Manhattan emerging with a 57-54 win at the Arena at Harbor Yard. Manhattan leads the all-time series, 42-33, including the last three meetings. Barry Rohrssen is 1-0 vs. the Stags, and 1-0 against Head Coach Ed Cooley.

What's Next?: Following today's game, the Jaspers travel to Buffalo, N.Y. to take on Canisius College on Monday, January 8. The game is part of a stretch that sees the Jaspers play nine of 11 games on the road, as three three-game mini road trips are broken up by single home games. Manhattan leads the all-time series with Canisius, 40-28. The two teams split the season series in 2005-06, with each team successfully defending its home court. Prior to the loss at Canisius, the Jaspers had won eight straight against the Golden Griffs. This will also be the first meeting for the two head coaches, as Barry Rohrssen and Tom Parrotta are both first-year mentors.

All-time record: Manhattan is in its 101st season of men's basketball. The Jaspers' overall record is 1194-1030 (.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.

Playing It Close: Manhattan has been in a position to win almost every game its had played this season, as seven of the Jaspers' 12 games have been decided by four points or less. The four Manhattan wins have been by a combined 10 points, while three of the teams' eight losses have been by a combined eight points (NJIT, Fordham, and St. Francis).

Only The First Letter Is The Same: Gaining experience against a variety of playing styles can only benefit a young team, and Manhattan has played teams with two of the most divergent offensive systems in college basketball in Princeton and Pepperdine. Princeton runs a slow-down, methodical, low scoring style of offense, while Pepperdine plays a frenetic, high-energy, high scoring style of offense. The Jaspers lost to Princeton, but defeated Pepperdine.

California Dreamin': Manhattan spent the New Year's holiday in California, playing Long Beach State on December 30 and Pepperdine on January 2. The games marked the first games for Manhattan in the Golden State since the 1996-97 season, when the Jaspers battled Stanford at the Arco Arena. The last Jasper team sport to travel to California was in 2003, when the Manhattan women's volleyball team particiapted in the NCAA Volleyball Championships, falling to Pepperdine, 3-0, on December 4, 2003, in an Opening Round match.

"D" Double-Figuring It Out: Sophomore Devon Austin and freshman Darryl Crawford are each playing a large role in the Manhattan offense, and are both currently putting together double-figure scoring streaks. Crawford has scored at least 10 points in the Jaspers' last eight games, raising his scoring average from 6.3 to 10.8 ppg in the process. Crawford is averaging 13.0 points per game during the streak. Austin has reached double-digits in the scoring column in the team's last six games, raisining his scoring average from 9.8 to 12.3 ppg in the process.