Box Score
RIVERDALE, N.Y. - Rico Pickett poured in 22 points, seven assists and seven rebounds to help the Manhattan men's basketball team to a coast-to-coast victory, 74-52, over Kean University in the Jaspers' first exhibition of the preseason. Patrick Bouli (12), Nick Walsh (11) and Andrew Gabriel (10) also scored in double figures, while senior guard Darryl Crawford added eight.
Pickett posted 13 of the Jaspers first 19 points as he opened the contest 5-for-8 from the field. Manhattan shot 40% from downtown in the first half after taking 20-of-32 shot attempts beyond the arc. Pickett drained four treys over the initial 20 minutes and Walsh connected on two. Manhattan carried a 37-29 advantage into the break.
Kean could not find its shooting rhythm in the first stanza as it shot 30.8% and hit just 1-of-8 3-point attempts. The Cougars depended on their free-throw shooting to hang close going 85.7% from the stripe. Senior forward Akinwande Oshodi hit seven of the Kean's 12 free-throws in the first half. Oshodi finished with a team-high 14 points and 10 rebounds. He was 10-for-12 from the line.
Manhattan extended its halftime lead to double figures and kept it this way for the majority of the second half. Gabriel found his shooting touch and was 5-for-6 from the field in the second. He finished with 10 points and seven rebounds. Jaspers' sophomore center Djibril Coulibaly added four points, including a one-handed tomahawk jam created by a behind the head fast break feed from Pickett.
Bouli was the Jaspers' most efficient shooter in the contest going 5-for-8 from the field. He drained two 3-points, dished out five assists and did not commit a turnover.
The Jaspers got defensive in the second half forcing 13 turnovers and allowed just 23 points. Manhattan got 15 points off turnovers and scored 20 of its 37 points in the paint.
Manhattan will play its final exhibition game on Tuesday versus Mercy College before it begins the regular-season. Tip off is slated for 7 p.m. at Draddy Gymnasium.
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