Albany, NY (February 1, 2005)- Down seven with 2:17 remaining, freshman Jeff Xavier connected on three three-pointers over a 1:05 span to pull Manhattan to within two, 68-66, with 1:12 remaining, but Manhattan could not score the equalizer, falling to the Siena Saints, 68-66, tonight at the Pepsi Arena. Xavier led all scorers with a season-high 19 points, including five three pointers, all in the second half.
The Jaspers jumped out to an 11-5 lead over the first 5:36 of the game, before Siena used a 6-1 run to pull within one, 12-11, with 12:09 left before halftime. Manhattan held onto the lead, leading by as many as eight, 32-24, with 1:16 left on a Jason Wingate three pointer before the Saints' Gary Holle converted a jumper to make the score 32-26 at the half.
Siena scored the first six points of the second half to knot the score at 32 with 16:46 left. After a Wingate jumper put the Jaspers back up two, 34-32, with 16:25 left in the game, Siena extended the run to 16-2, taking an eight point lead, 42-34, on a David Ryan three-pointer with 13:42 left on the clock. Two CJ Anderson free throws and a Xavier three cut the deficit to three, 42-39, with 12:32 left, but the Saints pushed their lead back to eight over the next 4:04 and maintained the lead until Xavier's late barrage brought the Jaspers back into striking range.
After Xavier's final three brought Manhattan to within two, Anderson blocked a Ryan three attempt, giving the ball back to the Jaspers. Peter Mulligan drove to the basket and was fouled with 11 ticks left, just missing the conventional three-point play as the ball barely rimmed out. Mulligan was unable to convert at the line, but Manhattan forced a turnover to regain possession with 2.2 seconds left. Mulligan received the inbounds pass, but could not get off a clean shot against a double team, allowing Siena to emerge with the win.
Joining Xavier in double figures were Anderson (15 points, seven boards, four assists) and Mulligan, who tallied 10 points. Kenny Minor dished out a season-high seven assists.
Jack McClinton paced Siena with 18 points.
Manhattan returns to action on Friday, February 4, traveling to New Rochelle, NY to take on the Iona Gaels in a MAAC TV game slated to begin at 7:00 p.m.