Newark, N.J. (November 10, 2007)- Sophomore Antoine Pearson tallied a game-high 19 points, as visiting Manhattan tallied a 70-28 road win at NJIT in the season opener for both teams this afternoon at the Fleisher Athletic Center. The Jaspers held the Highlanders to 16.7% shooting and just eight field goals in the win.
“It was good to see that a lot of the hard work from out returning players paid off for them today,” noted second year head coach Barry Rohrssen. “Also, the efforts from our new players contributed to an impressive win. Our dedication to defense and commitment to rebounding and making the extra effort to take charges was outstanding today”
The Jasper defense held NJIT to just 11 second half points as Manhattan allowed the program's least amount of points in the shot clock era, and the fewest since the Jaspers defeated Brooklyn Cathedral, 57-16 in the first game of the 1946-47 season.
The Jaspers came out of the gates aggressively on defense, as Pearson blocked the first shot attempt of the game, and later tallied Manhattan's first hoop of the season, a three pointer that knotted the score at 3-3 with 17:31 left in the opening stanza.
The Manhattan defense allowed just one made field goal over the game's first 8:42, but NJIT converted 5-6 from the line to keep the game close at 15-8 before a Brendon Lyn lay-up cut the deficit to 15-10 with 11:18 left before the break.
The Jaspers responded to that hoop with a 20-5 run to close out the half, leading by as many as 20 (34-14), with 4:28 remaining in the first 20 minutes, taking a 35-17 lead into the locker room.
Manhattan gradually built its lead in the second half, with a Franck Traore jumper in the final minute providing the largest margin, as well as the final tally.
The Jaspers' consistent and thorough defensive effort held NJIT without a field goal for a 14:56 span in the second half, from 16:30 left until 1:34 remaining as the Highlanders converted just 13% (3-23) from the field in the second half.
Pearson added four assists and four rebounds to his scoring total, and was joined in double figures by junior Devon Austin, who tallied 13 points, including 3-6 from beyond the arc, and six rebounds in his first game action after sitting out the entire preseason. 11 different Japers scored in the team win, with freshman Andrew Gabriel leading the team with nine rebounds to go along with seven points, one steal, and one block.
Nesho Milosevic paced NJIT with eight points, as just one Highlander, Brendon Lyn (2-5), recorded more than one made field goal.
Manhattan returns to action on Wednesday, November 14, traveling to Staten Island, N.Y. to take on Wagner College in a game that will be televised on Time Warner Cable in New York City. The game is slated to begin at 7:00 p.m.