Manhattan University Athletics

ALBANY, N.Y. ? Junior forward Devon Austin erupted for 26 points to lead the Manhattan College men's basketball team to a 73-59 victory over #9 Saint Peter's (6-24) this evening in the first round of the MAAC Championships at the Times Union Center in Albany, N.Y. Teammates Antoine Pearson and Darryl Crawford also scored in double figures helping the #8 seeded Jaspers secure a quarterfinal matchup with top-seeded Siena (19-10) tomorrow at 4:30 p.m.

“It was good to see all our effort and hard work leading up to this game paid off,” explained head coach Barry Rohrssen. “We knocked down a lot of shots tonight, and made our free-throws down the stretch.”

Senior forward Todd Sowell got Saint Peter's on the scoreboard first connecting on a layup just 24 seconds into the contest marking the Jaspers only deficit of the evening. Sowell finished with 20 points on 8-10 shooting.

Manhattan retaliated shortly after rallying for a 10-0 run to take an eight point advantage by the 15:37 mark. Pearson capped off the surge with a 3-pointer from the top of the key. He had 15 points and went 8-12 from the free-throw line.

Crawford delivered one of the most electrifying plays of the game with 10:51 on the clock when he glided through the lane and dunked the ball over two defenders. The hoop energized Manhattan's early offensive attack.

Crawford finished with 12 points and seven rebounds on the evening.

The Jaspers maintained an advantaged through the remainder of the half despite hot shooting from red-shirt freshman guard Nick Leon. Leon led the Peacocks with eight first half points coming off the bench.

Manhattan saw its largest lead, 53-34, with 12:37 remaining in the contest when red-shirt freshman Laurence Jolicoeur dunked the ball for his only points of the game. Jolicoeur grabbed four rebounds over 14 minutes of action.

The Jaspers held off a Saint Peter's comeback efforts in the later stages of the half to run off with a 14 point decision.

Austin connected on six of Manhattan's seven 3-point field goals marking the most in MAAC Tournament history since former standout Jeff Xavier also had six on March 2, 2005 in a 62-60 second round loss to Fairfield in Buffalo. Austin was also 10-15 from the field.

The Jaspers outrebounded Saint Peter's 42-31. Manhattan also prospered  on 25 points off turnovers.

Tomorrow's contest is a rematch of Manhattan's quarterfinals matchup with Siena last season in Bridgeport, Conn. The Jaspers were edged by the Saints 75-72.