Box Score
RIVERDALE, N.Y. - The Jaspers got off and running in the 2009-2010 campaign with a 70-58 victory over NJIT (0-1) on Saturday afternoon in Riverdale. Preseason All-MAAC selection Darryl Crawford led Manhattan (1-0) with 17 points and nine rebounds, while his former high school teammate Nick Walsh added 13 points including crucial second half 3-pointers in the Jaspers' third straight opening day victory.
"It is always a nice way to start the season off by getting a win," stated Jaspers' fourth year head coach Barry Rohrssen. "Darryl is a big part of this program and he has helped us win some games over his career. It is also good to see (Nick) as a junior have some success."
Manhattan's shots began to fall midway through the first half as the Jaspers overcame an early four point deficit and carried a 30-20 advantage into the break. Djibril Coulibay ignited the Jaspers at the 10 minute mark when the 6'9" sophomore center swiped the ball at midcourt from NJIT's PJ Miller and took it in for a layup to regain a 13-12 advantage, a lead Manhattan would not relinquish.
Crawford carried Manhattan with 10 points and six rebounds in the first half. He was the lone Jasper to sink multiple field goals in the opening stanza.
The Highlanders got on a couple runs in the second half and cut the lead to as few as two points. NJIT's surge featured seven unanswered points over a two minute span. Highlanders' sophomore guard Isaiah Wilkerson capped the run with a three point play to pull within 34-32 at the 16:41 mark. He finished with a double-double (17 points, 10 rebounds).
Walsh responded on the next possession with his first of three second half treys to build the lead to five. Manhattan maintained a single digit advantage for the next 10 minutes before Walsh dropped back-to-back 3-pointers to extend the Jaspers' advantage to 58-44 with 4:55 to play. Senior guard Antoine Pearson hit a driving lay up the next time down court to elevate Manhattan to its largest advantage (16).
Jheryl Wilson led NJIT in scoring with 20 points on 7-for-12 shooting. He added nine rebounds.
Manhattan shot 54.8% from the field in the second half and was 48.3% in the contest. The Jaspers' defense forced 14 turnovers converting them into 20 points.
Pearson finished with 10 points and three rebounds to lead Manhattan's reserves. The Jaspers' bench outscored NJIT 27-4.
Junior transfer Rico Pickett had seven points and five rebounds in his Manhattan debut. Andrew Gabriel added eight points and seven rebounds to the effort. Gabriel was 4-for-6 from the floor. Manhattan also got production from junior Laurence Jolicoeur who posted nine points after receiving the start.
Manhattan returns to action on Wednesday when the Jaspers travel to Princeton. Tip off is slated for 7 p.m. at Jadwin Gym.
