Game 4: Manhattan (3-1) vs. Fresno State (2-2)
Monday, November 21, 2011 at 7 p.m.
Game 5: Manhattan (3-1) at Colorado State (3-2)
Tuesday, November 22, 2011 at 9:30 p.m.
Moby Arena (8,745) - Fort Collins, Colo.
2011 NIT Season Tip Off Consolation Round
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Scouting Report
Manhattan (3-1)
Jaspers' first year head coach Steve Masiello has implemented an up-tempo system at Manhattan, which has already produced two wins in three games. Manhattan has gone deep on its bench playing at least 10 players in each of the Jaspers' first three contests. The Jaspers defensive energy has been able to disguise sub par shooting efforts as Manhattan willed its way to victories over NJIT (Nov. 12) and Brown (Nov. 15).
Manhattan's co-captains Kidani Brutus and George Beamon have led the way for the Jaspers. Beamon, a Preseason All-Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Second Team selection, has scored in double figures in all three starts this season. He is averaging a team-high 15.7 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. Brutus brings his 9.3 scoring average to Fort Collins, Colo. and he is the Jaspers' top shooting threat as he has converted eight 3-point field goals in three games.
Senior Roberto Colonette has anchored Manhattan's bench production in the opening contests. The 6'7" 210-pound forward from Queens has averaged 6.7 points, 6.0 rebounds and is shooting 41.2% from the field in 16.7 minutes per game. Sophomore guard Michael Alvarado, a 2011 All-MAAC Rookie Team honoree, has also been an option off the bench as he has posted 4.7 points and 2.3 rebounds per game in three contests.
Manhattan freshmen have had a significant presence in the Jaspers' line up with forward Emmy Andujar and Donovan Kates each earning the starting nod in the all three contests. Andujar is averaging 6.7 points, while Kates as added 4.3 points per game. The tandem is shooting 87.5% (14-16) from the free-throw line.
Fresno State (2-2)
Fresno State split its NIT Season Tip Off opening round contests falling to regional host Stanford and then defeating SMU last week at Maples Pavilion. The Bulldogs are led by sophomore guard Kevin Olekaibe who has averaged a team-high 20.3 points with nine 3-pointers in three starts this season. The 6'2" 180-pound native of Las Vegas has shot 40.8% from the field and converted 12-of-15 (80.0%) free-throws.
The Bulldogs' front court is powered by junior Kevin Foster, a 6'3" 230-pound forward from Lakeland, Fla. Foster is averaging 8.7 points and a team-high 6.3 rebounds. Foster can also step out and hit the 3-pointer as he has knocked down 4-of-5 attempts from downtown this season.
Fresno State is coached by Rodney Terry who is in his first season. Terry spent the last nine seasons as an assistant at Texas.
Colorado State (3-2)
Colorado State also comes out of the NIT Season Tip Off Stanford Regional as the Rams defeated SMU, before falling to the Cardinal in the finals. Colorado State has three players delivering the bulk of the Rams' offensive production in juniors Wes Eikmeier, Greg Smith and Jesse Carr who have accounted for 61.2% of the scoring offense.
Eikmeier, a 6'3" guard from Fremont, Neb., leads Colorado State averaging 17.3 points and has shot 42.9% from 3-point territory. Smith is a 6'6" forward who has posted 11.3 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. Carr has been a weapon off the bench in the Rams' three contests as the 6'2" guard has recorded 10.3 points per game and is 5-for-8 (62.5%) from beyond the arc.
Colorado State is coached by Tim Miles who is in his fifth season at the helm.
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