Niagara University, N.Y. (January 13, 2008) ? Playing Niagara for the second time in eight days, the Jaspers were looking for their first Western New York sweep since the 2003-04 season. But for the fourth straight meeting, Charron Fisher and the Purple Eagles proved to be too much to overcome. Fisher, the nation's leading scorer, posted 32 points and eight rebounds, his sixth 30-point game of the season, leading Niagara to an 80-63 win at the Gallagher Center.
Manhattan (8-8, 2-4 MAAC) struck first on a Devon Austin jumper nearly two minutes into the ballgame. It was their only lead of the contest. The high-powered Purple Eagles responded with a 21-1 run, capped by a three-pointer from reserve Demetrius Williamson, to take a 21-3 lead. Niagara later extended the lead to 21, their largest of the game, on a three-pointer by Tyrone Lewis with 6:33 remaining in the first half. Overall, the Jaspers struggled from the field before intermission, closing the half shooting 8-of-25, including a 0-for-8 clip from three-point range, as Niagara led 39-21 at halftime.
After intermission, the Jaspers finally came alive from downtown, converting six of 10 three-point attempts. Freshman Nick Walsh, who tallied a season-high 11 points, hit three triples, while sophomore Antoine Pearson, who also scored 11, connected on two three-pointers.
For the second time in three games, Laurence Jolicouer provided a spark off the bench and reached double figures. The red-shirt freshman from Queens scored 10 points, and after converting a conventional three-point play with 5:42 remaining, pulled Manhattan within 10, 66-56. But Niagara responded with an 8-2 run to put the game away, with Fisher scoring six points during the stretch.
Freshman Chris Smith added nine points for the Jaspers.
