Box Score
RIVERDALE, N.Y. - The Manhattan men's basketball team opened with a 20-0 run and stormed past Towson (7-20, 4-12 CAA) 78-62 in a Saturday matinee at Draddy Gymnasium as part of ESPNU BracketBuster weekend. Senior forward Brandon Adams contributed a career-high 18 points, along with a game-high eight rebounds in Manhattan's (10-17, 4-12 MAAC) 10th victory of the year. Manhattan shot a hot 53% from the field and dished out 22 assists, the most assists in over two years.
"It's big starting out a game with a run like that, with the defensive intensity, and the will to win," said fourth year Jaspers head coach Barry Rohrssen.
Manhattan came out of the gate strong on both ends of the court. All five of the Jasper starters contributed to the 20 unanswered points, while also clamping down defensively holding Towson without a point until the 11:34 mark when Isaiah Philmore converted a free-throw.
The Jaspers limited Towson without a field goal until under 10 minutes into the ball game when senior forward Calvin Lee hit a midrange jumper to end the drought. Lee was one of four Tigers who scored in double figures recording 10 points on 5-for-6 shooting.
Manhattan maintained a double-digit lead and entered intermission with a 33-21 advantage at the break. Jaspers junior guard Rico Pickett had 11 points at halftime and finished with 17 points and five assists. It was Pickett's 23rd straight game scoring double-figures.
Seniors Darryl Crawford and Adams helped Manhattan maintain control in the second half. The Jaspers built their lead to as many as 21 points (47-26) on Crawford's lay up with 14:03 to go. The senior guard from New York City gave the Jaspers a superb all-around effort finishing with 13 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals.
Andrew Gabriel had one of his best games of the season, scoring 13 points and grabbing seven rebounds to assist in the Jaspers' third win in the last five games. Gabriel shot 6-for-9 (67%) from the field and had a block.
"Andrew can be an x-factor for this team," explained Rohrssen. "He is one of our better defensive players and when he can give a consistent effort on the boards and make positive offensive contributions it gives our team another look."
Manhattan senior guards Patrick Bouli and Antoine Pearson each tallied five assists in the Jaspers best sharing performance of the season. Bouli added nine points and five rebounds to the effort.
Manhattan returns home for Senior Night on Friday as the second part of a doubleheader with the Lady Jaspers. The men will tip off at 7:30 p.m.
