Jersey City, NJ (February 8, 2004)- Manhattan improved to 17-4, 12-1 in MAAC play, and opened up a two game lead on the field with a 77-73 win over Saint Peter's this afternoon at the Yanitelli Center on the Saint Peter's campus.
Luis Flores led all scorers with 24 points.
Saint Peter's jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead, as the Jaspers did not make a field goal until, after five misses to open the game,
Jason Benton tallied a conventional three point play to bring Manhattan to within two, 5-3, with 15:31 left in the first half.
Peter Mulligan tied the score for the first time since 0-0 with a three pointer from the right wing. Luis
Flores nailed a three to give the Jaspers their first lead of the game, 28-27, and another Flores three extended the lead to six, 33-27, with 2:20 remaining before the break. The Peacocks responded with a 9-2 to close out the half, capped by two Keydren Clark free throws to make the score 36-35 in favor of Saint Peter's at the half.
In the second half, a three from
Jason Wingate and a Flores layup off a Mulligan steal gave the Jaspers back the lead, 43-41. A Clark floater in the lane gave the Peacocks the lead back, 50-49, but Manhattan answered with a Flores basket plus the foul to regain the lead, 52-50, with 12:48 left in the game. The Jaspers extended the lead to eight, matching the largest of the game by either team (Saint Peter's led 13-5 with 13:27 left in the first half) on a putback by Mulligan. Consecutive threes by the Peacocks brought them to within two, 66-64, with 6:06 left, and Saint Peter's pulled even with 23 seconds to play on a Clark layup in traffic. On the ensuing possession, Manhattan worked the clock and Flores found
Jason Wingate, who drove to the center of the lane and buried the short jumper to give the Jaspers a 75-73 lead with nine seconds remaining.
Ron Yates drew a foul with three seconds left, and, after missing the first free throw, Yates was called for a lane violation as he tried to intentionally miss the second free throw. Flores was fouled on the inbounds play, and connected on both free throws with two seconds left to seal the win.
Dave Holmes tallied a double double with 11 points and a game-high 14 rebounds, as Manhattan won the battle of the glass, 37-28. Mulligan chipped in with 14 points off the bench. Clark led four Peacocks on double figures with 22 points.
The 12-1 MAAC start matches the program's best, set last season. The win was also the 86th of head coach Bobby Gonzalez's career, tying him with Fran Fraschilla for fourth place on the Manhattan all-time list.
Manhattan gets back in action on Friday, February 13, when the Jaspers take on local MAAC rival Iona at 8:00 p.m. in a game to be televised on the Madison Square Garden Network.
