Box Score
Box Score
NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. – In front of a crowd of 2,611, Manhattan started the second half on an 11-0 run but Iona responded with a decisive 17-3 to take the lead for good on its way to an 85-73 victory at the Hynes Center on Friday night.
It was a great college basketball atmosphere with a packed house, filled with screaming Iona and Manhattan fans, with the ESPNU cameras rolling. The game got off to a lightning-fast start with eight ties and a pair of lead changes in the first 20 minutes.
Iona led 39-34 at halftime behind a balanced scoring attack in which three different players had eight points or more in the opening stanza. Rhamel Brown was a force on the interior for the Jaspers in the first half, totaling 10 points and five rebounds to lead the way.
Manhattan came out in the second half with increased defensive intensity, causing turnovers and scoring at will in an 11-0 run to open the second half. With the Jaspers trailing 39-37, RaShawn Stores made one of two free throws before Manhattan forced a missed three-pointer. Stores then nailed an open triple to give Manhattan its first lead since the 12:53 mark of the first half.
George Beamon followed with consecutive baskets, allowing the Jaspers to open up a 45-39 advantage with 16 minutes left to play.
Manhattan still led by six points, 50-44, when Donovan Kates buried a corner three with 14:34 to go. Iona then made its run, scoring 12 straight points in three and a half minutes, capped by consecutive three-pointers by A.J. English to give the Gaels a 56-50 advantage.
Iona extended its lead to eight points before the Jaspers cut into the deficit, getting to within 64-62 on two free throws by Ashton Pankey at the 4:50 mark.
Manhattan had a chance to tie on its next possession, but was unable to do so. The combination of David Laury and Mike Poole then produced eight of Iona's next ten points to allow the Gaels to push their lead to 74-65 with two minutes remaining.
Brown finished with 15 points, eight rebounds and three blocked shots to pace Manhattan. Iona had five players finish in double figures, led by Laury's 21.
Manhattan is now 14-6, 7-4 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, while Iona improves its record to 12-8 and 9-2 in the conference.
The Jaspers are back in action on Monday, February 3 against Saint Peter's at Draddy Gymnasium. Game time is 7 p.m.
NOTES:
Manhattan outrebounded Iona 42-38 and 16-11 on the offensive glass ... the Jaspers had 15 assists against 11 turnovers ... Emmy Andujar finished with11 points and nine rebounds ... Michael Alvarado had six assists ... he has dished out six or more assists in each of the last three games ... nine different players scored for Manhattan ... six different players made a three-point field goal ... the Jaspers have lost consecutive games for the first time this season.
