Box Score Box Score (HTML) | Box Score (PDF) | Highlights | PhotosRiverdale, NY - Manhattan claimed the "Battle Of The Bronx" by a 60-53 score over Fordham at Draddy Gymnasium behind a team-high 15 points from John "Doc" Johnson Most Outstanding Performer
Zavier Turner (Indianapolis, IN / Ball State).
The Jaspers improve to 3-7 while the Rams fall to 5-6.
Trailing 41-40 with just under 11 minutes to play, senior Tyler Wilson (Bronx, NY / Cardinal Hayes) shifted the proverbial pendulum with an old-fashioned three-point play that electrified Draddy Gymnasium while giving Manhattan a lead it would not relinquish the rest of the way.
Wilson's play fueled a game-changing 17-7 run that gave the Jaspers an insurmountable 57-48 advantage with 3:06 to play following a Calvin Crawford (Jr., Middletown, NY / St. Thomas More (CT)) three pointer.
Fordham would fight back and trim the deficit to four with 46 seconds to play but was unable to get any closer as junior Zane Waterman (Winston-Salem, NC / Fayetteville Academy) grabbed a pair of crucial defensive rebounds down the stretch. Waterman then put the game on ice with a pair of free throws to cap his 10-point performance, all of which came in the decisive second half.
After allowing the Rams to convert on 9-of-15 to start the game, the Jaspers allowed the visitors to make good on just 8-of-39 (.205) the rest of the way.
Manhattan made good on just 38.6 percent (17-of-44) from the field but was an efficient 47.1. percent (8-of-17) from distance.
Crawford added 12 points with seven rebounds off the bench while sophomore Thomas Capuano (Hastings-on-Hudson, NY / Iona Prep) rounded out the double-digit scorers with 10 points. Waterman also pulled down a team-best eight rebounds.
The Jaspers return to action on Saturday, December 17 against Florida State in the Orange Bowl Classic with opening tip tabbed for 1:30 pm.
Fordham was led by Chris Sengfelder, who scored 14 points.
Notes:
* Manhattan leads the all-time series by a 57-52 count.
* The win was the 95th for Head Coach Steve Masiello ... Masiello is also now 4-2 against Fordham since taking over the program after going 4-0 as an assistant from 2001-2005.
* In the postgame press conference Masiello dedicated the win to the administration, specifically mentioning President Brennan O'Donnell and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Marianne Reilly.
* Father George Hill, Manhattan College's longtime chaplain who passed away in September, was honored in a touching ceremony at halftime with his family being presented a framed jersey.
