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2009-2010 Men's Basketball Media Guide
RIVERDALE, N.Y. - The Manhattan men's basketball team will honor its graduating senior class on Friday in the Jaspers' final home game of the season versus Niagara at 7:30 p.m. Prior to tip off there will be a brief 'Senior Night' ceremony recognizing Brandon Adams, Patrick Bouli, Darryl Crawford, Antoine Pearson and walk-on Victor Jackson. The MAAC contest will be the second part of a doubleheader with the Manhattan women's team which hosts Loyola at 5 p.m. Fans can watch all the action from Riverdale live at GoJaspers.com.
Series History
Manhattan (10-17, 4-12) and Niagara (16-13, 8-8) meet for the 69th time in series history. The Jaspers attempt to snap a seven game losing streak to the Purple Eagles. Manhattan's last victory against Niagara was on Feb. 13, 2006 when Jason Wingate '06 sank two free-throws with 19 seconds remaining to lead the Jaspers to an 82-81 triumph in Western New York. Four Jaspers scored in double-figures, including 21 points apiece from Jeff Xavier and Arturo Dubois. Niagara erased the Jaspers' three game win streak earlier this season when the Purple Eagles defeated Manhattan 88-64 on Dec. 4, 2009 at the Gallagher Center. Senior guard Antoine Pearson led four Jaspers in double-figures with 17 points.
Scouting Report
Manhattan
Manhattan has won three of its last five games and the Jaspers look to continue its good play in the final weekend of the MAAC regular-season. Manhattan is coming off a 78-62 victory over Towson on Saturday in its ESPNU BracketBuster match up. The Jaspers opened with a 20-0 run and led by double-digits the rest of the way in the wire-to-wire victory. Four Jaspers posted double-figures, including a career-high 18 points and game-high eight rebounds from senior forward Brandon Adams. Manhattan shot a hot 53% from the field and dished out 22 assists, the most assists in a game in over two years. Rico Pickett, Antoine Pearson and Patrick Bouli each tallied five assists. Senior guard Darryl Crawford also delivered a solid all-around performance finishing with 13 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals. Pickett has anchored the Jaspers' offense this season as the MAAC's leading scorer has averaged 17.8 points per game. He is ranked sixth in the MAAC with a 43.6% field goal percentage. Crawford is also averaging double-figures (14.5 ppg) and he leads Manhattan with 6.0 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game.
Niagara
Niagara enters this contest on a three game winning streak, and the Purple Eagles have won five of their last six contests. Niagara is coming off an 85-79 victory at Wisconsin-Milwaukee on Saturday during ESPNU BracketBuster weekend. Junior point guard Anthony Nelson scored all 14 points in the second half, while adding a season-high nine assists and eight rebounds in the Purple Eagles 16th win of the season. Nelson (10.2 ppg) is one of four Niagara players who are averaging double-figures and he is fourth in the MAAC with 5.1 assists per game. Senior guard Tyrone Lewis leads Niagara averaging 16.7 points. Niagara is second in the conference posting 72.5 points per game and is 5-7 in road contests this season.