Box Score Box Score (HTML) | Box Score (PDF) | Highlights | Postgame Press Conference | PhotosRiverdale, NY - Junior
Zane Waterman (Winston-Salem, NC / Fayetteville Academy) scored 26 of his career-high 35 points after halftime while classmate
Zavier Turner (Indianapolis, IN / Ball State) hit for 23 to lead Manhattan to a rousing 76-73 come-from-behind win over Rider at Draddy Gymnasium.
With the victory, the Jaspers improve to 7-11 and 2-5 in the MAAC while the Broncs fall to 11-6 and 4-2 in the league.
The duo of Waterman and Turner combined for 58 of Manhattan's 76 points while shooting 15-of-31 from the floor and 24-of-29 from the line.
Trailing 67-65 with 2:17 to play, Waterman canned a three pointer off a Tyler Wilson (Sr., Bronx, NY / Cardinal Hayes) pass before following up with an old-fashioned three-point play to extend the Jasper lead to 71-67 with 1:08 to play. The North Carolina native them grabbed the carom on the ensuing Rider possession before converting on a pair from the line. Waterman would again pull down a rebound on the defensive end and split a pair at the line to cap a personal 9-0 run that put the Manhattan lead at 74-67 with just over 32 seconds to play.
Down but not out, the Broncs immediately drained two three pointers in less then five seconds and after the Jaspers split a pair at the line, the visitors had a chance to tie or take the lead. However, once again Waterman cleaned up the glass and split a pair at the line to ice the 76-73 win.
Manhattan trailed by as many as six points on six different occasions in the second half but was able to fight back thanks to making good on 50.0 percent (13-of-26) from the floor in the decisive stanza.
In the first half, Rider controlled the pace for the bulk of the action and led by nine on a pair occasions before the Jaspers registered off seven points in one possession en route to ripping off an 11-1 run in taking a one-point lead with 2:02 until halftime. The visitors would reclaim the lead and head into intermission up 34-32.
Manhattan shot 40.0 percent (22-of-55) from the floor and 80.0 percent (28-of-35) from the line.
The Broncs dominated the glass to the tune of 46-36, including 20-10 on the offensive end, and were led by Kahlil Thomas, who had 24 points and a game-high 14 rebounds.
The Jaspers return to action against Iona on Tuesday, January 17 with opening tip slated for 7:00 pm.
Notes:
* Manhattan's last five wins have come when trailing at the break.
* Waterman's 35 points are the most by a player in a game during the Steve Masiello era.
* His 26 second-half points matched his previous career-high of 26 set against Fairfield.
* The victory was the 99th of Masiello's career.
* Masiello is 6-5 against Rider in his career with each of the teams' last five match-ups being decided by 10 points or less.
* Turner has now notched at least 20 points in three-straight games, seven times on the and on 13 occasions in his career.
* The Jaspers also have had two players each notched 20 points for the second-straight game.
* Wilson notched a season-high five assists and ranks eighth in school history with 341 for his career.
