Box Score
ALBANY, N.Y. - The Manhattan men's basketball team could not disrupt the nation's second longest home winning steak as the Jaspers fell 83-68 to Siena (15-4, 8-0 MAAC) on Monday at the Times Union Center. Junior guard Rico Pickett poured in a game-high 26 in Manhattan's (7-11, 2-6 MAAC) third straight loss.
The Saints placed four players in double-figures, including 23 points from senior forward Alex Franklin who finished 9-for-13 from the field. Siena shot a sweltering 55.4% (31-56) in their 31st win in Albany.
Manhattan rolled out to an 18-10 advantage behind the lead of Pickett's hot shooting. Pickett scored nine of his 16 first half points in the first six minutes of action. He capped the Jaspers' initial surge with a break away two-handed dunk at 14:15 forcing the Saints to call for a timeout.
Pickett converted 10 field goals and sank a career-high five 3-pointers. The Alabama native also grabbed a team-high six rebounds in 37 minutes of action.
Siena made its bid for the lead midway through the first stanza with three unanswered 3-pointers, featuring two from Clarence Jackson which were sandwiched between another from Kyle Downey. The surge propelled the Saints out to a 33-27 advantage at 6:24.
Manhattan held Siena without another field goal before intermission, but the Saints still managed to carry a 39-31 lead into the break.
Siena rallied behind the inside attack from Franklin and Ryan Rossiter to build a double-digit lead within the first four minutes of the second half, and the Saints maintained the advantage to the finish. Rossiter had 19 points and 14 rebounds in the contest. Downey added 16 points and Jackson finished with 15 points.
The Jaspers had a solid shooting effort going 42.9% (27-63) from the field and 50% (9-18) from beyond the arc. Antoine Pearson showed life off the bench adding 10 points. Fellow seniors Brandon Adams and Darryl Crawford each posted nine points apiece.
Manhattan looks to rebound on Friday night when the Jaspers return home for an ESPNU showdown with local MAAC rival Iona. Tip off is slated for 9 p.m. at Draddy Gymnasium.
