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2009-2010 Men's Basketball Media Guide
RIVERDALE, N.Y. - Manhattan squares off with local MAAC rival Iona on Friday at 9 p.m. in Draddy Gymnasium. Fans can watch all the action live on ESPNU or listen to the Manhattan audio webcast at GoJaspers.com.
Manhattan (7-11, 2-6) and Iona (13-6, 5-3) meet for the 74th time in series history. The Gaels hold a five game advantage in the local MAAC rivalry, and Iona stands as the only current MAAC school that holds a winning all-time record versus the Jaspers. Manhattan coasted to a 52-39 victory their last time out on Feb. 9, 2009 at Draddy Gymnasium. Chris Smith led the Jaspers with 15 points, while Darryl Crawford (13) and Laurence Jolicoeur (11) also contributed double-figures in the winning effort. Manhattan limited Iona to just 11 first half points, and the Gaels shot just 18.6% (8-for-43) in the contest. The win snapped a three game Iona winning streak in the series. The Jaspers have won their last three meetings with Iona at Draddy Gymnasium.
Manhattan has dropped two of its last three home contests, and the two losses were by a combined three points. Sandwiched between the two setbacks was a 76-53 triumph over Saint Peter's on Jan. 8 marking the team's fourth win at Draddy Gymnasium this season. It was arguably Manhattan's best all around performance of the year. The Jaspers attempt to snap a three game skid and are coming off a 83-68 loss to Siena at the Times Union Center on Monday night. Jaspers' guard Rico Pickett erupted for his team-leading fifth 20-point performance of the season finishing with a game-high 26 points, including a career-best five 3-pointers. The junior from Alabama led Manhattan for the fourth time this season grabbing six rebounds. Antoine Pearson added 10 points off the bench, and senior classmates Crawford and Brandon Adams posted nine apiece. Pickett (16.7 ppg) and Crawford (14.9 ppg) each rank in the top-10 on the MAAC's scoring list. Pearson is averaging 10 points and a team-best 2.2 assists per game. Manhattan returns to Riverdale for the first time since dropping its heartbreaking 63-61 overtime decision to Canisius on Jan. 16. It was the program's first overtime contest in over two years.