Riverdale, N.Y. (February 10, 2007)- Manhattan will look to get back on the winning track and avenge a loss to Niagara earlier in the season when the Jaspers host the Purple Eagles at Draddy Gym on Sunday, February 11. The game will begin at appoximately 2:00 p.m. and will be televised on RNN.
Today's Matchup: The Jaspers return to Draddy Gym to host Niagara University on Sunday, February 11, at 2:00 p.m. in a game that will be televised on RNN. The game begin 20 minutes following the conclusion of the women's game vs. Saint Peter's, which tips at 12 noon and will also be aired on RNN. Manhattan leads the all-time series, 42-20, and have won eight of the last 11 meetings. The Purple Eagles have won three of the last four meetings, including an 81-70 win in the Gallagher Center on February 2. Manhattan has won four of the last five meetings at Draddy Gym.
What's Next?: Following today's game, the Jaspers begin their final regular season road trip of the year, playing their next three games away from Draddy Gym. The road trip begin on Valentine's Day, Wednesday, February 14, as Manhattan will travel to Poughkeepsie, N.Y. to take on preseason MAAC favorite Marist at 7:30 p.m. The Jaspers lead the all-time series, 16-10, winning eight of the last 10 meetings, including a 75-74 win at Draddy Gym on January 30, which saw freshman Darryl Crawford hit a runner in the lane with seven seconds left to provide the final margin. Marist has won the last two meetings at the McCann Center.
All-time record: Manhattan is in its 101st season of men's basketball. The Jaspers' overall record is 1202-1034 (.538), while the team has posted a 200-198 (.503) 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. Manhattan's 200 MAAC wins makes them just the second MAAC team to reach 200 MAAC wins, joining Iona.
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.
Player-Coach-Broadcaster, An All-Time Jasper: Brian Mahoney handles the color commentary for the Jaspers' men's and women's basketball teams, but his connection to Manhattan College runs much deeper. Mahoney is a 1971 graduate of Manhattan College and has also served as the head men's basketball coach at his alma mater. Mahoney, who was inducted into the Manhattan College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1998, tallied 1,289 points over his four year playing career as a Jasper (1968-71), and ranks 13th on the all-time scoring list. Following his senior season, in which he averaged 20.6 points per game and earned All-East honors, Mahoney was drafted in the fifth round of the NBA draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers. He coached the Jaspers from 1978-81, posting a 16-62 record. Mahoney also coached at St. John's, and was named Big East Coach of the Year in 1993. Last season, Mahoney was named one of the top 20 Jaspers from the first 100 years, and was recognized as part of a special ceremony at halftime of last season's Long Beach State game.
Manhattan College Basketball Weekly: Beginning Friday, January 12, Manhattan College Basketball Weekly will air the first of nine episodes, stretching over the 2006-07 men's basketball season. Hosted by Ed Cohen, the show will take an in-depth look at the past and present of Manhattan basketball, and will also highlight other great moments in Jasper athletic history. The show will air every Friday at 4:00 p.m. and will replay at 11:00 a.m. on Saturdays on SportNet New York.
Jaspers Dickensian When It Comes To Stealing: Like the young thiefs of Oliver Twist and the Artful Dodger, its the youngest Jaspers that are producing most of the steals for Manhattan. Patrick Bouli paces the team with 40, and Darryl Crawford is next with 31, followed by Antoine Pearson with 23 and Jamel Ferguson 21. Devon Austin (20), Arturo Dubois (24), and Guy Ngarndi (20) pace the veterans.
Jaspers To Battle Eagles In Game From O'Reilly's ESPNU BracketBuster : Manahttan's final non-conference, regular season, opponent was announced Tuesday, January 29. In their fourth straight year participating in this event, the Jaspers will travel to Ypsilanti, Mich. to play the Eastern Michigan University Eagles on Saturday, February 17 at 4:00 p.m. Manhattan has been the road team in three of its four appearances, including a nationally televised, 83-76, victory at UW-Milwaukee in the 2003-04 season. That season, Manhattan won the MAAC Regular Season crown with a 16-2 conference record, the most wins since the MAAC expanded to 10 teams in the 1998-99 season. One interesting side note for the Eastern Michigan game is that Manhattan sophomore Devon Austin's older brother, Markus, starred for the Eagles from 2001-05, and currently ranks 12th on their all-time scoring list, as he tallied 1,425 points over the course of his career.
