Riverdale, N.Y. (November 3, 2007)- The Manhattan College men's basketball team opened up its exhibition season with a 79-42 win over CCNY tonight at Draddy Gym. Sophomore Antoine Pearson led all scorers with a game-high 14 points on seven-of-eight shooting.
The undersized Beavers (no player taller than 6-5) kept things close in the early going, and took a one point lead, 15-14, on a three pointer by Jhensen Ortiz with 8:44 left in the opening stanza before the Jaspers asserted their will on the game, holding CCNY to just two points over the next 6:34, and took a 38-21 lead into the locker room.
Newcomer Herve Banogle tallied seven points and six rebounds in the opening stanza, including a stretch of five straight points during the decisive run.
Manhattan's defensive pressure kept the Beavers at bay in the second half, as Jasper pressure caused 17 second half CCNY turnovers, with Manhattan recording 12 second half steals.
The Jaspers dominated on the glass, holding a 41-18 advantage on the boards. Manhattan tallied 21 steals and shot the ball well, converting 55.4% of its shots on the day.
Sophomore Darryl Crawford joined Pearson in double figures, recording 10 points. Banogle finished with a game-high eight rebounds.
This was the first meeting between the two New York City programs since the 1959-60 season.
The Jaspers will play its final exhibition game on Wednesday, November 7, hosting Concordia College at Draddy Gym at 7:00 p.m. Manhattan opens the 2007-08 campaign on Saturday, November 10, traveling to Newark, N.J. to take on NJIT, with tip-off slated for 2:00 p.m.
