Albany, NY (January 3, 2004)- Senior
Luis Flores scored a season and game-high 29 points as the Jaspers cruised to a 72-50 MAAC win over Siena College tonight at the Pepsi Arena. Manhattan wins its second straight and improves to 7-3 overall and 2-0 in the MAAC.
Manhattan opened the game with 7-2 and 11-5 to open up an 18-7 lead behind nine early points from
Luis Flores. Siena cut the lead to 10, 30-20, before the Jaspers closed out the half scoring six of the final nine points to go into the break with a 36-23 lead. Manhattan shot 52.2% from the floor (12-23), and 10-13 from the line, while holding the Saints to 36.8% shooting (7-19). The Jaspers tallied seven steals and forced 15 turnovers in the first half.
In the second half, Manhattan pushed the lead to 18, 50-32, before the Saints used a 9-0 run to pull with nine, 50-41. The Jaspers answered with a
Jason Benton putback and a long three from Flores to push the lead back to double-digits, at 55-41. A Benton three point play gave Manhattan a 60-45 lead with 3:04 remaining in the game on the way to the 72-50 final.
Joining Flores is double-figures was Benton, who tallied 10 points. Siena was led by Michael Haddix who tallied 14 points and a game-high 11 rebounds.
The Jaspers continue their road trip when they take the annual Western New York MAAC road trip, taking on Canisius on Wednesday, January 7 and Niagara on Friday, January 9. Both games are slated to begin at 7:00 p.m.
