RIVERDALE, N.Y. – Manhattan opens the home portion of the schedule on Friday night against Central Connecticut State at 7 p.m. inside Draddy Gymnasium. Manhattan then hits the road on Sunday to face Fairleigh Dickinson.
Friday will be the first meeting between the Jaspers and Blue Devils. It is the second straight game to start the season for Manhattan against a first-time opponent.
Manhattan will look to win its home opener for the second year in a row on Friday. The Jaspers topped Manhattanville last year in its home opener, 99-42.
In the season's opening game on Monday against VCU, Manhattan fell on the road 73-56.
Elijah Buchanan had team-high 16 points.
Josh Roberts provided 14 points and eight rebounds on a perfect 7-7 shooting.
Manhattan held VCU 0-7 from 3-point range in the second half after allowing eight in the opening 20 minutes. The Jaspers also outscored the Rams 26-25 in the second half on Monday night. For the game, Manhattan shot better than VCU from the field, 3-point range, and the free throw line.
At VCU,
Raziel Hayun became the first true freshman to start a season opener for Manhattan since Buchanan did against Elon to open the 2018-19 season. Hayun finished Monday night with three points, two rebounds, and three steals in 27 minutes of action.
Central Connecticut State lost 94-67 at UMass on Monday night to open its season. Kellen Amos had a game-high 24 points to lead the Blue Devils against the Minutemen. In the NEC Preseason Poll, the Blue Devils were picked T6 with Fairleigh Dickinson, who is the Jaspers' opponent on Sunday.
Manhattan will visit Fairleigh Dickinson on Sunday in game three of 2022-23. The two sides met last season inside Draddy Gymnasium, and Manhattan came away with a 78-73 win. The Knights took Loyola Chicago to overtime on opening night before losing 88-82. On Wednesday, Fairleigh Dickinson topped Mercy, 106-66, for the first win under first-year head coach Tobin Anderson.
