BOX SCORE
RIVERDALE, N.Y. ? Sophomore guard Chris Smith scored a career-high 35 points carrying Manhattan (5-3, 1-1 MAAC) to a 70-60 win over Princeton (2-6, 0-0 Ivy) today in Riverdale. The Jaspers never trailed in the program's first victory against the Tigers at Draddy Gymnasium since 1982.
“We knew we would have our hands full today,” stated third year head coach Barry Rohrssen. “Obviously, Chris had an outstanding game. Herve Banogle came in the first half and did very well, got us out of the gate and set the tone.”
Smith knocked down his first seven shots of the contest, including a 3-pointer 55 seconds into the game, giving the Jaspers a lead they would hang on to. Herve Banogle was as precise as Smith, shooting a perfect 4-4 from the floor for a career-high eight points. Smith and Banogle were off to a hot start knocking down their first 11 combined shots
Banogle has not missed a shot attempt at Draddy Gymnasium in four home games this season (10-10).
The Jaspers carried a 33-26 advantage into intermission behind 18 first half points from Smith. He was 12-17 from the floor during the contest and sank four 3-pointers.
Princeton hung around in the second half and pulled within 46-43 at the 9:44 mark on a Doug Davis trey. The freshman guard finished with a career-high 27 points and hit six 3s.
The Jaspers rallied back behind a Darryl Crawford 3, and then a Smith tomahawk jam on the ensuing possession. The surge fueled a 9-2 run and gave Manhattan its first double-digit lead of the game (57-47).
Manhattan led by as many as 13 points late in the second half. The Jaspers shot 50% from the field (23-46) and from 3-point territory (5-10).
Junior point guard Antoine Pearson was the only other Jasper to score in double-figures. He finished with 13 points and was 7-11 from the free-throw line.
Manhattan committed just five turnovers and forced Princeton into 11. The Jaspers scored 28 of its points in the paint.
Manhattan travels to Binghamton on Saturday for a 2 p.m. showdown with the Bearcats.
