Manhattan Drops 62-58 Heartbreaker To MAAC-Leading Monmouth

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Riverdale, NY - Junior Zavier Turner (Indianapolis, IN / Ball State) scored a game-high 27 points but it wasn't enough as Monmouth defeated Manhattan 62-58 at Draddy Gymnasium.



Turner also went over 1,000 points for his career but had his achievement spoiled by a game-ending 11-1 Hawk run, as the visitors improve to 21-5 and 13-2 in the MAAC while the Jaspers fall to 9-17 and 4-11 in the league.


Turner also notched his ninth 20-point performance of the year and the 15th of his career thanks to going 9-of-16 from the floor. Junior Zane Waterman (Winston-Salem, NC / Fayetteville Academy) pulled down a career-high 15 rebounds to pace the frontcourt.

Manhattan came roaring out of the gates in the second half, ripping off five-straight points in building 34-27 lead with 18:45 to play. Unfortunately, Monmouth would respond with six-straight in making it a one-point game at the 16:09 mark.

The game would continue to be a nip-and-tuck affair over the next seven-plus minutes and with the score tied at 45-45 with 8:52 remaining, the Jaspers made their move.

Junior Calvin Crawford (Middletown, NY / St. Thomas More (CT)) hit a jumper off a Thomas Capuano (So., Hastings-on-Hudson, NY / Iona Prep) assist before Waterman blocked Austin Tilghman on the other end. Turner then split a pair following a technical and canned a triple in giving Manhattan a 51-45 lead with 7:13 remaining.

The Jasper advantage would grow to a game-high seven one possession later before Justin Robinson converted an old-fashioned three-point play to make it a four-point contest.

Undaunted, Manhattan would see its lead grow to six on two more occasions before the visitors made their-game changing push. 

Following a Crawford jumper at the 3:34 mark, the Hawks outscored their hosts 11-1 the rest of the way.

However, the Jaspers came painfully close to tying the game as Turner's three pointer with less than eight seconds to play rolled in-and-out. On the other end, Pierre Sarr split a pair to seal the result while providing the final 62-58 count.

Manhattan recorded 12 steals while forcing 18 Monmouth turnovers and limited reigning MAAC Player of the Year Justin Robinson to a season-low seven points, on 2-of-7 shooting.

The Jaspers assumed a 29-27 lead at the break thanks to 12 first-half points from Turner, who was a perfect 4-for-4 from the field and 4-for-4 from the line.

Je'lon Hornbeck scored 15 points while Chris Brady and Micah Seaborn each had 10 to pace the Hawks.

Manhattan returns to action against Saint Peter's on Sunday, February 12 with opening tip tabbed for 6:00 pm.