Riverdale, NY - Junior Elijah Buchanan (Bronx, NY / Woodstock Academy (CT)) scored 14 points with nine rebounds, while classmate Samir Stewart (Fort Lauderdale, FL / American Heritage) added 13 points and four steals to lift Manhattan to a 58-49 win over Niagara in the first of two games between the teams at Draddy Gymnasium.
The Jaspers improve to 4-4 on the year, and 3-4 in the MAAC, while the Purple Eagles fall to 5-6 and 4-5 in the league.
Manhattan came roaring out of the gates and led 20-8 just over 10 minutes into the game, thanks to converting on six three pointers, with three coming from Buchanan.
The visitors would rally to take the lead late in the first half, before junior Marques Watson (Brooklyn, NY / Miami Dade College) hit the ninth Jasper three ball of the stanza, and junior Samba Diallo (Rufisque, Senegal / UMass) converted a pair from the line in giving the Green & White a 33-30 lead at intermission
After halftime, the Manhattan defense would take over, as Niagara misfired on 13 of its first 14 shots in the second half and the Jaspers used a 14-2 run to open up an insurmountable 47-32 advantage at the third media timeout (7:46).
The Purple Eagles responded with eight-straight to make it a seven-point game, only to see Watson respond with a corner triple to push the lead back out to double-figures at 50-40 with 4:10 to play.
Media (3:36-2nd) // Watson drills the ninth Manhattan triple of the game to give the Jaspers a 50-40 lead as we head to the final media stoppage.#BronxBuilt pic.twitter.com/HIFm0eu0lc
— Manhattan Basketball (@JaspersMBB) January 15, 2021
Niagara would twice cut it to nine points, but was unable to get any closer.
Notes
* Junior Warren Williams registered double-figures on the glass for the second time in his career, finishing with 11 as Manhattan posted a dominating 41-30 rebounding advantage.
Williams open the second-half scoring with the slam! pic.twitter.com/vgjAssU0EY
— Manhattan Basketball (@JaspersMBB) January 15, 2021
* Over his last four games, he is averaging 10.0 ppg, 9.0 rpg and 2.8 bpg.
* The Jaspers also grabbed 15 offensive rebounds in posting a 9-0 margin in second-chance points.
* Manhattan is now 3-0 when holding teams to less than 60 points this season, and is 61-11 (.847) when doing so under Head Coach Steve Masiello.
* The Jaspers also improve to 47-17 (.734) when registering 10 steals under Masiello.
Stewart with three the hard way!
— Manhattan Basketball (@JaspersMBB) January 15, 2021
Manhattan leads Niagara 38-30 with 16:10 to play in regulation! pic.twitter.com/wnzLI46Nxx
* Manhattan's 15-point second half lead was its biggest advantage this season, while the Jaspers' 10 three points are also a season-best.
3?3?3?3?3?3?3?3?3?3?#JasperNation have a minute?
— Manhattan Basketball (@JaspersMBB) January 16, 2021
Here are all 10 of our three pointers from today!#BronxBuilt pic.twitter.com/jU2ysf3uEZ
* Five different Jaspers hit a three pointer, with four converting at least two.
EB for 3!
— Manhattan Basketball (@JaspersMBB) January 15, 2021
Manhattan leads Niagara 20-10 with 8:56 to play in the first half.#BronxBuilt pic.twitter.com/2uW4lbWAqE
* In the opening stanza, the Green & White made good on 53.3 percent (8-of-15) from long range.
* Buchanan, who entered the game as the MAAC leader in steals, had two along with two blocks.
* Manhattan improves to 17-4 when Stewart has scored in double-figures over his three seasons.
Stewart hits the three as Manhattan leads 53-43 with 1:30 to play in regulation.#JasperNation #BronxBuilt pic.twitter.com/oLW6v0Adi4
— Manhattan Basketball (@JaspersMBB) January 15, 2021
* He is now averaging 13.2 ppg and 3.0 apg over five career games against Niagara, while shooting 52.8 percent (19-for-36) from the floor, and 46.7 percent (14-of-30) from deep.
* Junior Ant Nelson (New York, NY / Seton Hall) had a career-high matching three steals with three assists.
Buchanan likes this three-point thing!
— Manhattan Basketball (@JaspersMBB) January 15, 2021
Manhattan 6 Niagara 2 with 17:53 to play in the first half.#BronxBuilt pic.twitter.com/IHFsENW24R
* Kobi Nwandu (12 points) and Marcus Hammond (10 points) paced Niagara.
Up Next
* The teams will next play on Saturday, January 16 at 4:00 pm with the game to be streamed on ESPN+.