Riverdale, NY (February 13, 2004)- Manhattan scored the first seven points of the game and never looked back in defeating MAAC rival Iona, 88-69, tonight at Draddy Gym. The Jaspers shot 56.9% from the field and improved their record to 18-4, 13-1 in MAAC play. The 13-1 record is the best start to MAAC play in Manhattan basketball history.
Manhattan led by as many as 27, 42-15, in the first half before Iona posted an 11-0 run to pull to within 16, 42-26, with 2:18 left in the half. The Jaspers responded by scoring the last four points of the half to go into the break with a 46-26 lead. Manhattan hit five of eight three point shots in the first stanza, and added six blocks, and eight steals, while forcing 10 Iona turnovers. The Gaels (7-15, 5-8 MAAC) were 0-4 from beyond the arc and were held to 37.5% (9-24) shooting.
In the second half, Manhattan's lead never bulged to larger than 26 or fell to less than 17 as the Jaspers won their fifth straight game and posted their 13 win in their last 14 games.
Luis Flores led all scorers with 27 points on 11-20 shooting.
Dave Holmes (16 points, game-high nine rebounds, career-high five blocks) and
Peter Mulligan (11 points) also tallied double-figures, as 10 of the 12 players on Manhattan's roster scored at least one point.
Steve Burtt paced Iona with 17 points, while Anthony Bruin and Greg Jenkins each tallied 11 and Ricky Soliver chipped in with 10.
Manhattan returns to action when the Jaspers face Siena on Sunday, February 15 at 4:00 p.m. The Manhattan women's basketball team precedes the men's game with a MAAC game against Loyola at 1:00 p.m.
