DAYTONA BEACH, FL — The Jaspers qualified for the MAAC Championships in Atlantic City, and now Manhattan will make its first postseason appearance in 10 years at the Purple College Basketball Invitational held from March 22-26 in Daytona Beach. The Purple CBI bracket reveal was made official late Sunday afternoon, pinning the Jaspers against the Incarnate Word Cardinals (17-16, 9-11 Southland).
""Our players and coaches are honored to receive an invitation from the College Basketball Invitational to compete in their prestigious postseason tournament," said Manhattan head coach John Gallagher. "When I took this job two years ago, I made a promise to our administration that we would compete on the national stage quickly. Playing in the CBI allows us to do that, and I want to thank the committee."
Manhattan's season will continue in the 12-team tournament, marking the Jaspers first postseason appearance since winning the MAAC Championship in 2015 and appearing in the NCAA Tournament that year. The last time the Jaspers competed in the postseason outside of the NCAA Tournament was the 2012 CIT when Manhattan beat UAlbany, 89-79, in the opening round before losing in the second round to Fairfield, 69-57.
Manhattan's 17 wins (and counting) this season have already clinched the third-best win improvement season to season after posting seven wins a year ago. Dating back to 1904-05, the greatest single-season win improvement in program history came in 2011-12 when Manhattan went 21-13 after finishing the prior season 6-25. The second biggest jump came in 2013-14 when the Jaspers increased their win total from 14 to 25 from the season before and cut down its loss total from 18 to 8.
"This team is special, and they are led by high character veterans who love Manhattan," said Gallagher. "The group is deserving of this and I couldn't be prouder to be their coach."
Gallagher is set to make his fourth postseason appearance as a head coach. He previously led University of Hartford on a storybook run to the NCAA Tournament in 2021, where it met eventual national champion Baylor in the first round. Gallagher also led the Hawks program to the CIT in 2013 and 2018. The 2013 berth marked Hartford's first Division I postseason appearance in program history. Four years ago, Gallagher enhanced his impressive track record by leading the Hawks to the aforementioned NCAA Tournament as the representative from the America East.
Gallagher sits with 194 career wins across his 14-year DI head coaching career.
Across its history, the Jaspers have made 28 postseason appearances — eight in the NCAA Tournament, 18 in the National Invitation Tournament, once in the CIT and once in the NAIA Tournament prior to the NCAA's implementation of divisions in college sports which was enacted in 1956.
The history of the Purple CBI dates back to 2008. The 2024 winner was Seattle University who made their championship run at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach, the same venue where this year's edition will be held. Seattle defeated High Point, 77-67, in the championship game.
??Updated bracket for the 2025 Purple CBI?? pic.twitter.com/eOoQKAEKza
— Purple CBI (@CBITourney) March 17, 2025
Manhattan and Incarnate Word will meet for the first time in program history next Sunday at 12 p.m. ET at the Ocean Center. The game will be streamed on FloHoops, a subscription service which will feature the opening rounds of the Purple CBI before the semifinals on March 25 moves to national television on ESPNU and the championship game to ESPN2 the following day on March 26.
The winner of the Jaspers' opening round game with Incarnate Word will draw Jacksonvile (19-13, 12-6 ASUN) in the Quarterfinals on March 24.
"We are grateful to have incredible support from Jasper Nation, and I believe a postseason berth is in the best interest of our students, student-athletes, administration, alumni, and fanbase," said Gallagher. "Not only does this berth give us another chance to compete for a title, but it also gives our group added and important opportunities to grow for our future. We are very excited!"
Tickets are available for purchase for the Purple CBI. Find them HERE.
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