Buffalo, NY (January 7, 2004)- Manhattan posted an 81-63 victory over Canisius College tonight at the Koessler Athletic Center. Junior
Peter Mulligan led six Jaspers in double-figures with a game-high 18 points. Manhattan won its third straight and improves to 8-3 on the season, 3-0 in MAAC play. The last time the Jaspers posted six players in double figures was on November 26, 2001, in a 111-84 win over Long Island University.
With Manhattan ahead, 16-10, with 11:57 to play in the first half, the Jaspers blew open the game with a 16-4 run, capped by a Mulligan three-pointer, to take a 32-14 lead with 5:24 to play before the break. The Golden Griffs (4-9, 0-3 MAAC) cut the lead to 25, 34-19, with 3:04 remaining before halftime, but Manhattan scored seven of the final nine points of the half to take a commanding 43-21 lead at the half.
The Jaspers posted their largest lead of the night, 24 points, when
Jason Wingate connected on two free throws to give Manhattan a 67-43 lead with 8:26 to play. Canisius could get no closer than 17 the rest of the way.
Joining Mulligan in double-figures were
Luis Flores (16 points),
Dave Holmes (13 points, career-high five assists), Wingate (10 points),
Kenny Minor (10 points), and
Jason Benton (10 points, game-high nine rebounds). Canisius was led by Richard Jones, who tallied 14 points and eight rebounds to lead the Griffs in both categories.
Manhattan concludes its Western New York swing on Friday, January 9, when the Jaspers battle Niagara at 7:00 p.m. in a MAAC contest.
