Riverdale, NY (February 13, 2005)- Manhattan used a 24-0 run over an 8:29 span in the first half, turning a 16-16 tie in to a 40-16 lead, as the Jaspers posted an 86-54 MAAC win over Marist this afternoon at Draddy Gym.
Peter Mulligan paced a balanced scoring effort with a game-high 19 points as Manhattan improves to 12-11 overall and 7-8 in MAAC play.
The game seesawed over the first several minutes as each team led by more than three. With Marist holding a 14-12 lead with 14:25 to play in the opening stanza, Manhattan scored the next four points to take a two point lead, 16-14, on a
Arturo Dubois layup. The Red Foxes' Jared Jordan connected on a layup with 12:18 remaining to tie the score at 16 before Manhattan ran off the game's next 24 points, including four three pointers from four different players, ending with a
Jeff Xavier layup with 5:18 to play in the half, giving the Jaspers a 24 point lead, 40-16. Manhattan continued to execute offensively, pushing the lead to as many as 31 points, 50-19, before Marist's Will Whittington connected on three free throws with six seconds remaining before the break, as the team's went into the locker rooms with Manhattan leading, 50-22.
The Jaspers shot 63.3% (19-30) from the field in the first half, their best first half shooting percentage this season. Manhattan also handed out 13 of its 20 assists and seven of its nine steals in the opening stanza, while committing just two turnovers.
Marist opened the second half with a 9-1 run to pull with 21, 52-31, with 16:42 left in the game, but would get no closer the rest of the way. Manhattan led by as many as 36, 77-41, with 7:39 to play, and never let the lead dip below 29 the remainder of the game.
Joining Mulligan in double-figures were
CJ Anderson, who tallied his seventh double-double of the season with 18 points and a game-high 13 rebounds,
Jason Wingate (career-high tying 16 points), and Xavier (15 points, four assists, four steals).
Jordan paced Marist with 15 points, eight rebounds, and four assists, all team-highs.
Manhattan concludes its three game home stand on Wednesday, February 16, when the Jaspers host Loyola at Draddy Gym in a game that is slated to begin at 7:00 p.m.
