Box Score
Box Score
RIVERDALE, N.Y. - Michael Alvarado made an eye-popping 13 of 17 shots from the field on his way to a career-high 33 points as Manhattan defeated Marist 86-79 in overtime before 2,212 fans on Alumni Day at Draddy Gym.
Playing without senior guard George Beamon, who was sidelined due to injury, Manhattan jumped out early on Marist. RaShawn Stores sank a pair of three-pointers around an Alvarado layup to give the Jaspers an 8-0 lead after the first two minutes.
The Jaspers extended their lead to 14-4 on another Alvarado layup before Marist came back. The Red Foxes responded with a 14-2 run, punctuated by a Chavaughn Lewis steal and a dunk that put Marist in front, 18-16 at the 10:32 mark.
The back-and-forth game continued as Manhattan ripped off a 13-6 run to take a 29-24 advantage. Manhattan then led 36-30 at halftime on a steal and breakaway dunk by Rich Williams right before the buzzer sounded to end the half.
Manhattan built a 51-38 advantage when Shane Richards buried a three-pointer at the 14:38 mark. Marist then mounted another rally.
Over the next six minutes, the Red Foxes gradually chipped away at Manhattan's lead and took a 56-55 lead on a Lewis jumper with eight minutes left. Marist ultimately led 66-57, its largest lead of the game, on a Khalid Hart layup with 5:21 remaining.
Emmy Andujar started Manhattan's comeback with five consecutive points to cut the Jaspers' deficit to 66-62. Marist still led 73-69 on a Hart three-point play with 1:57 left. Alvarado converted a driving layup to make it a two-point game before Williams deflected a pass and broke away for a game-tying dunk to tie the score at 73 with 1:15 left.
Neither team was able to convert its last possession during regulation as the game moved into overtime.
Marist scored the first bucket of the extra session on a Jay Bowie jumper, but Williams drained a three-pointer at the three-minute mark to give the Jaspers a 76-75 lead that they would not relinquish. Alvarado drove to the hoop for back-to-back layups to push Manhattan's lead to 80-75 with 1:33 left in overtime.
Hart made two free throws to make it an 80-77 game before Alvarado again stepped up with a traditional three-point play to give the Jaspers an 83-77 lead with 38 minutes left. Alvarado then iced the game with two free throws with 10 seconds left. After the second free throw, Alvarado came out of the game to a huge standing ovation from the Manhattan faithful and a fist pump from head coach Steve Masiello.
Alvarado's 33 points shattered his previous career high of 25 points. He dished out four assists without any turnovers, blocked a shot and had a steal. That led four Jaspers in double figures, including Williams (13 points, 5-of-8 from the field), Richards (11 points, 4-of-6) and Andujar (10 points, nine rebounds, 4-of-6).
"Adversity reveals who you are at all times," Masiello said after the game. "This team showed what they're all about today. They kind of did it during the year at Columbia and at the Barclays Center, but we had George. Today, we did it without George. We basically did it with next year's team. The character of the team really impressed me. When you could survive when you're supposed to go down, you're going to live a long time."
Lewis had 25 points and Hart finished with 24 for Marist.
The Jaspers are back in action on Thursday, January 16 against Siena at Draddy Gymnasium. Game time is 7 p.m.
NOTES:
Manhattan has won nine of its last ten games ... the Jaspers have won three in a row at Draddy Gymnasium and seven of their last eight MAAC games at home ... Manhattan shot 58.5% from the field and 70% (7 of 10) from three-point range ... the Jaspers made all four of their shots from the floor in overtime ... Manhattan's bench outscored Marist's bench 26-8 ... the Jaspers defeated the Red Foxes 70-59 in the conference opener for both teams in December ... Manhattan has won 10 of the last 13 meetings between the two schools ... Michael Alvarado now has 986 points in his career ... the game was Manhattan's third overtime game this season ... the Jaspers are 3-0 in overtime games ... the annual alumni game took place at 11 a.m. on Sunday as more than 40 men's basketball alumni came back to Riverdale ... Junius Kellogg '53 was honored at halftime of the game, as Manhattan College officially dedicated a plaque in his honor that will remain in Draddy Gymnasium.
