Riverdale, N.Y. (February 16, 2007)- Manhattan will travel to Ypsilanti, Mich. to take on the Eastern Michigan Eagles in the Jaspers' final regular season non-conference game on Saturday, February 17, in a game from the ESPNU O'Reilly's BracketBuster event. The game is slated to begin at 4:00 p.m. and is the third all-time meeting between the two schools.
Today's Matchup:
The Jaspers continue their final regular season road trip of the year, traveling to Ypsilanti, Mich. to take on the Eastern Michigan Eagles at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 17 in the Jaspers' final regular season non-conference game. This matchup was made from the teams participating in the O'Reilly's ESPNU Bracket Buster field. The two teams split the only previous meetings, with the Jaspers taking a 73-71 decision at Draddy Gym on December 17, 1994, and the Eagles posting an 88-76 win at home on December 21, 1995.
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.
What's Next?:
Following today's game, the Jaspers continue their final regular season road trip of the year, traveling to Albany, N.Y. to play the final road game of the regular season, as the Jaspers take on Siena College on Thursday, February 22, at 7:00 p.m. Manhattan leads the all-time series, 44-25, including 12 of the last 16 meetings. The Saints won the matchup earlier this season, taking an 80-69 decision at Draddy Gym on January 21. Manhattan has won four of the last six meetings in Albany, though the teams have split the last four meetings.
All-time record:
Manhattan is in its 101st season of men's basketball. The Jaspers' overall record is 1202-1036 (.537), while the team has posted a 200-200 (.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. 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.
