Box Score
LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. - Manhattan came up short in a shootout at Rider (10-5, 2-1 MAAC) falling 88-78 to the Broncs on Monday at Alumni Gymnasium. Sophomore guard George Beamon led the Jaspers with his fifth double-double (24 points, 10 rebounds) of the season, while junior Kidani Brutus (19) and graduate student Demetrius Jemison (15) added double-figures.
Manhattan (2-11, 0-3 MAAC) rallied back after a slow start, erasing a 15-point first half deficit with a 17-2 run to tie the game at 27-27 at the 2:31 mark with a jumper from freshman point guard Michael Alvarado. Manhattan's defensive pressure limited Rider to just two field goals in the final 10 minutes of the first half as the Jaspers entered halftime trailing 32-29.
Alvarado led Manhattan into the break scoring all nine of his points in the first half. On the opposite end of the court, it was freshman guard Anthony Myles who kept Rider's offense going by posting 10 of his 12 points off the bench.
The Broncs rebuilt their lead to nine points nearly five minutes into the second half, courtesy of seven quick points from junior swingman Novar Gadson. But Manhattan fired back, responding with big buckets from Brutus and Beamon.
Brutus drained his first of three second half 3-pointers with 15:18 on the clock, which sparked a 14-4 run. Beamon accounted for the Jaspers' next eight points, courtesy of two 3-point plays. Then Brutus buried another trey to send Manhattan ahead 51-50 with its first lead of the contest at 12:21.
Beamon scored 18 of his career-high 24 points in the second half, finishing 8-for-9 from the free-throw line. Brutus tallied 14 of his season-best 19 points in the half, shooting 6-for-12 in the contest, including four 3-pointers.
Rider's leading scorer Justin Robinson (15.1 ppg), who was held to just two points in the first half, reclaimed the lead for the Broncs' posting the next five points as part of a 21 point second half eruption. Manhattan evened the contest two more times over the next two minutes, before Gadson got a 16-4 run going with a layup. He unlocked a 57-57 tie with 8:31 remaining and Rider preserved the lead to the final buzzer.
The Broncs outshot Manhattan 51.4% (18-35) to 48.6% (17-35) in the second half. Freshman center Danny Stewart played a big role in Rider's success going 6-for-8 from the field. He finished with a double-double (14 points, 10 rebounds).
Manhattan received a solid effort from freshman forward Rhamel Brown who blocked a career-high six shots, going along with nine points and seven rebounds. It was the third time in Brown's young career that he blocked five or more shots.
The Jaspers return to action on Friday night at Draddy Gymnasium when they host Loyola. Tip off is slated for 7 p.m.
