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Riverdale, NY - Manhattan (9-12; 6-6 MAAC) returns to action against Quinnipiac (8-14; 5-8 MAAC) on Thursday, February 11 at 8:00 pm that will be streamed on ESPN3.
TOP STORYLINES
#1 - In an extremely balanced five-game series history (since 2013-2014) the teams have each scored 377 points during that time.
#2 - The Jaspers are 21-7 over the last three years in the months of February/March and 29-11 since the start of the 2012-2013 season.
#3 - Manhattan defeated Quinnipiac 69-65 in the teams' regular season finale a year ago.
QUICK HITS
* Manhattan dropped an 80-70 decision to Fairfield despite a game-high 22 points from senior Shane Richards.
* Richards, who is sixth in MAAC history with 290 career three pointers, also had 28 in last week's victory over Rider and has hit for at least 20 points nine times this year and 16 times over his career.
* After halftime in the Jaspers' 12 MAAC games, Richards is averaging 11.5 points per game while shooting 55.1 percent from the field, 47.7 percent from long range and 91.2 percent from the line.
* Manhattan defeated Rider 65-57 thanks to posting a game-ending 9-0 run and have won three MAAC games when trailing with less than five minutes to play.
* In the aforementioned three wins, Rider was limited without a point in the final 3:24, Monmouth the last 1:57 and Fairfield the final 3:25.
* Following Thursday's game, the Jaspers will play four-straight on the road.
* During league play, the Manhattan is 6-4 in games decided by 10 points or less.
* Last Three Game Jasper Splits:
First Half: 23.7 ppg, on 31.8 percent shooting from the floor, including 26.7 percent from long range, and 65.6 percent from the line.
Second Half: 40.0 ppg on 52.7 percent shooting, including 50.0 percent from deep, and 96.3 percent from the line.
* After halftime during MAAC play, Manhattan has shot 50.0 percent or better from the floor in 7-of-12 and 40.0 percent or better on threes in 6-of-12.
* The Jaspers forced 23 turnovers in each meeting against Fairfield and have now turned over the opposition at least 16 times 12 times, including at least 20 on four occasions.
* Manhattan, which forced a season-high 25 turnovers in the win over George Mason, ranks 14th nationally with a MAAC-best 16.1 forced turnovers per game and are 20-10 when forcing the opposition into at least 20 since Steve Masiello took over the program prior to the 2011-2012 season.
* Another offshoot of the pressure defense employed is that the Jaspers are second in the MAAC and 46th nationally with 7.5 thefts per game. Manhattan, which registered 10 steals in the win over Monmouth, are 33-5 when hitting the 10-steal standard since Masiello took over the program, including 22-2 over the last three years.
* The Jaspers also rank among the top-100 nationally in FT % (.726-74th), 3-pt % (.365-87th) and 3-pt %D (.327-91st).
* Masiello is 2-3 all-time, against Quinnipiac and is 63-36 (.636), all-time, against MAAC teams, including going 34-11 (.756) at home and 21-23 (.477) on the road.
* Manhattan has won eight of its last 13 games thanks to averaging 71.1 ppg while shooting 44.8 percent from the floor, including 40.4 percent from long range, and 75.7 percent from the line.
* Defensively over the last 13, the Jaspers are limiting the opposition to just 29.8 percent shooting from deep, including 25.0 percent (27-of-108) after halftime.
* Richards is averaging a team-best 18.5 points per game over the last 13 games, fueled by six 20-plus point performances, while shooting 44.1 percent (67-of-152) from the field, 42.9 percent (39-of-91) on threes and 90.5 percent (67-of-74) from the line.
* Also during the last 13 games, junior Rich Williams (13.5 ppg, 6.5 rpg) and sophomore Zane Waterman (11.5 ppg, 5.8 rpg) are notching double-figures in scoring while senior RaShawn Stores (8.6 ppg, 3.2 apg) and sophomore Calvin Crawford (9.3 ppg) have developed into reliable scoring threats. Stores also is shooting 39.2 percent (20-of-51) from deep with a 2.2 assist/turnover ratio while junior Tyler Wilson is averaging 5.8 assists each time out with a 1.9 assist/turnover rate.
* Over the last five minutes in the previous 13 games, Manahttan is limiting opposing teams to 32.7 percent (35-of-107) shooting, including just 15.2 percent (5-of-33) from deep, while making good on 82.9 percent (68-of-82) from the line.
* In the last five minutes during MAAC play, the Jaspers are making good on 85.3 percent (58-of-68) from the line while holding opposing teams to 37.4 percent shooting (37-of-99), including just 25.0 percent (7-of-28) from long range.
* This season, opposing three-point shooters are converting on 36.0 percent (63-of-175) in the first half compared to a scant 29.3 percent (48-of-164) after halftime.
* In the win over Monmouth, Manhattan hit on each its last four shots while ending the game on a 13-2 run, including recording the last nine points after the Hawks went up two with just under two minutes to play.
* Despite failing to notch double-figures in points for just the second time this season in the thrilling victory over Monmouth, Richards handed out a career-high matching five assists and hit the go-ahead three pointer.
* The New York native ranks among the MAAC leaders in scoring (18.1 ppg-4th), ft percentage (.857-3rd), threes (2.7/game-5th) and minutes (37.2-1st) while notching double-figures in scoring 19 times and pacing the squad on 13 occasions.
* After halftime during MAAC play, Richards is averaging 11.5 points each time out while shooting 55.1 percent (43-of-78) from the floor, including 47.7 percent (21-of-44) from long range and 91.2 percent (31-of-34) from the line, highlighted by going for 25 in the second half of the victory at Canisius, 16 after halftime in the win over Rider and 15 in the victory over Siena in the second stanza.
* In the win over Morgan State, Richards converted a career-high seven three pointers en route to registering 28 points with seven caroms.
* A 2015-2016 All-MAAC Preseason Second Team selection, Richards was the hero in the first win of the year, a 69-67 come-from-behind triumph over George Mason, thanks to banking in a jumper with 1.2 seconds to play after earlier becoming the 37th member of the school's 1,000-point club. He currently ranks 13th with 1,320 points.
* From long range, Richards has converted at least three triples in 59 of his 119 games - including at least four 32 times - and is the school's single-season (92-2015) and career (290) leader in threes. When he connects on four in a game, the Jaspers are 22-10, including 18-7 over the last three seasons. His 287 threes also rank seventh in the MAAC record books.
* Since returning to MAAC play in January, Richards is averaging 18.0 points, 2.9 assists and 3.6 rebounds per game during that time while shooting 42.4 percent (28-of-66) from beyond the arc and 92.3 percent (48-of-52) from the line, highlighted by a career-high 32 points in the win at Canisius, on 11-of-14 shooting (6-of-7, 3-pt).
* Over his career against Quinnipiac, Richards has struggled in averaging just 7.4 points per game while shooting 32.4 percent (11-of-34) from the floor and 34.8 percent (8-of-23) from distance. However in the last meeting, he had nine points and six rebounds in Manhattan's 69-65 victory.
* Joining Richards as one of the top all-around players in the MAAC is Williams, who ranks among the MAAC leaders in scoring (14.9 ppg-12th), rebounding (6.3 rpg-9th) and defensive rebounds (4.9 drpg-5th).
* The duo of Richards and Williams became the first set of Jasper teammates to each notch 20 points in a game this year in the win at Morgan State and are averaging a combined 33.0 points per game (4th MAAC).
* In the win at Canisius, Williams' notched his third career double-double (19 points, 11 rebounds) with a career-high five assists.
* He has paced the squad in scoring on five occasions and on the glass a team-high 12 times.
* Williams had his second double-double (23 points, 10 rebounds) in the win over Morgan State after registering his first against Columbia (17 points, 11 rebounds) and has hit for at least 20 points four times, highlighted by a career-high 26 in the victory over George Mason.
* Williams has improved both his scoring (+9.4 ppg) and rebounding (+4.8) numbers from a year ago.
* In the backcourt, Stores is second in the MAAC with 2.3 assist/turnover ratio while also averaging 8.3 points, 3.0 assists (t-10th MAAC) and 1.3 steals (15th MAAC) per game. He also is sixth in the circuit with a 40.3 percent (29-of-72) conversion rate from long range and 15th with 1.6 triples per game.
* Stores has also hit for double-figures six times, highlights by a career-high 18 points against Marist, fueled by a career-high matching five three pointers.
* In the victory over Niagara, Stores scored 15 points, highlighted by four free throws over the final 11.9 seconds, after hitting for 16 points over a career-high 49 minutes in the win over Siena.
* Stores, a 2015-2016 All-MAAC Preseason Third Team selection, is shooting 41.3 percent (66-of-160) on threes after halftime for his career, including making good on 44.1 percent (41-of-93) since the start of last year. Stores also has a 3.4 assist/turnover ratio (67 assists/20 TO) over the last two years in the second half.
* Manhattan is 44-24 over the last three years when Stores, who was granted an extra year of eligibility on July 22, 2015 by the NCAA, starts including going 17-8 last year.
* Both Richards & Stores are the only MAAC student-athletes to have played in the last three MAAC title games and have been a part of 67 total wins, including going 8-1 during MAAC Tournament play.
* The Jaspers defeated Monmouth in large part to a career-high 20 points from Calvin Crawford, who finished up 8-of-12 from the floor.
* For his efforts, Crawford, who is averaging 9.3 points per game this year, became the first Manhattan student-athlete to be named MAAC Player of the Week this year while becoming the fourth different Jasper to hit for at least 20 points this season
* Fueled by Crawford, the bench outscored the starters 46-32 with Williams adding 15 points and freshman Thomas Capuano 11 as the second unit shot 52.9 percent (18-of-34) from the floor.
* Capuano is third in the MAAC in steals (1.6 spg) and fourth in three-point shooting (.418), including making good on a blistering 51.9 percent (14-of-27) from distance.
* Both Crawford (12 points) and Capuano (10 points) each notched double-figures in points for the fifth time this season at Fairfield
* Wilson, who helped energize the Jaspers' back-to-back 90-point performances in early January, is second in the MAAC with 5.8 assists per game and has registered a career-high 10 assists twice this season, including most recently in the victory at Morgan State.
* Wilson, who has led Manhattan in assists 19 times this season, also dished out 10, against one turnover, vs. Marist. His performance against the Red Foxes was the first double-figure outing by a Jasper student-athlete since Von Damien Green had 10 against Saint Peter's on January 30, 2002.
* On the year, Wilson, who has also handed out at least six assists on 13 occasions is second in the MAAC and 23rd nationally (5.8 apg) while also ranking among the league leaders in steals (1.5 spg-6th) and assist-turnover ratio (1.8-7th).
* Waterman, who had 12 points and seven rebounds in the win over Rider, has scored in double-figures in eight of his last 11, averaging 12.2 points and 6.2 rebounds per game during that time while shooting 50.0 percent (45-of-90) from the floor.
* He notched his first career double-double with 12 points and a personal-best 13 caroms in the win over Siena after going for a career-high 23 points at EKU and has scored in double-digits 11 times.
* Waterman, who scored 22 points against Columbia, ranks among the league leaders in scoring (10.9 ppg-29th), rebounding (5.8 rpg-14th), field goal percentage (.487-9th) and offensive rebounding (1.9 opg-13th).
* The Jaspers are 42-5 when leading at the half over the last three seasons, including going a perfect 15-0 a year ago. Additionally, since the start of last season the Jaspers are 23-2 when leading with five minutes to play and 19-14 in games decided by 10 points or less.
* Masiello, who holds a career record of 88-65 (55-33 MAAC), is fifth in school history with his aforementioned 88 victories and set the school-record for MAAC Tourney wins a year ago with his eighth against Iona while breaking ESPN analyst Fran Fraschilla's previous Manhattan mark.
* Since returning to Riverdale, Masiello has led the Jaspers to a pair of MAAC Titles as well as a pair of 20-plus win campaigns. In his first tenure, he was a part of two MAAC Championships and three 20-plus win seasons. All told, Masiello has been a member of four of the five Manhattan MAAC Championship teams and five of the Jaspers' 12 20-win seasons in accruing a 171-101 record.
* In his 20th season as either a player or a coach, Masiello has a career collegiate record of 449-211, including 328-183 on the sidelines, with one National Title, two National Championship appearances, two Final Four appearances, six Elite Eight berths, eight conference championships, 13 NCAA Tournament appearances and 15 20-win seasons.
KEY MANHATTAN MATCH-UPS
Rebounding - Manhattan had just 18 rebounds the last time out at Fairfield and will have to do a better job on the glass against a Quinnipiac squad that is pulling down 44.7 rebounds per game.
Exert Homecourt Advantage - The Jaspers are 5-2 at home against MAAC opposition and will need to continue to hold court at Draddy Gymnasium.
The 3 Ball - The Bobcats have the league's stingiest three-point defense, allowing opposing teams to make good on just 29.6 percent as Manhattan will need to play an efficient game from long range.
LAST 13 GAME JASPER SPLITS
Second Half FG% (.486) (162-333) | First Half FG% (.411) (140-341)
Second Half FG% D (.429) (158-368) | First Half FG% D (.470) (154-328)
Second Half 3-Point O (.450) (63-of-140) | First Half 3-Point O (.354) (45-of-127)
Second Half 3-Point D (.250) (27-of-108) | First Half 3-Point D (.346) (37-of-107)
NOT SHABBY
Over the last three years, Manhattan is 21-7 when limiting teams to less than 40 percent shooting, 25-8 when winning the battle of the boards and 35-16 when forcing more turnovers than the opposition.
CLIMBING THE LADDER
Richards, who became the 37th member of the school's 1,000-point club in the win over George Mason, is currently 13th with 1,320 points.
UP NEXT
The Jaspers are at Marist on Saturday, February 13 with opening tip slated for 7:00 pm.
