Game 12: Manhattan (7-4) vs. Towson (0-10)
Tuesday, December 20, 2011 at 7 p.m.
Towson Arena (4,500) - Towson, Md.
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Scouting Report
Manhattan (7-4)
Manhattan is riding its longest winning streak in nearly five years as the Jaspers have won their last four contests. Manhattan's swarming defense has been superb in December keeping the team undefeated in the month. The Jaspers have held the last four opponents under 60 points and limited them to 33.2% shooting from the field and 19.4% from 3-point territory.
The Jaspers have improved their offensive efficiency during the four game win streak as they are shooting 45.7% from the field, 40.6% beyond the arc and 72.2% as a team. George Beamon (17.0 ppg), Emmy Andujar (10.0 ppg) and Michael Alvarado (10.0 ppg) are each averaging double-figures over the last four starts.
On the season, Beamon is off to a terrific start, which has helped Manhattan produce seven wins. The 6'4" junior from Roslyn, N.Y. is averaging a team best 15.8 points per game and he is one of the top free-throw shooters in the country with a 91.5% (43-47) mark at the charity stripe. Beamon leads Manhattan in steals (14), while also averaging 5.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game.
Manhattan has gone at least 10 players deep on its bench in all 11 games this season. The Jaspers are also receiving solid production in the starting line up from Andujar, Alvarado and senior forward Roberto Colonette.
Andujar, the reigning MAAC Rookie of the Week, is the only Jasper to start all 11 games this season and he is averaging 8.3 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists. Alvarado is averaging 8.9 points as he is one of the most efficient shooters on the team with a 45.2% field goal percentage. Alvarado is shooting a team high 47.1% beyond the arc. Colonette has emerged as one of the Jaspers top big men. He has started eight of 11 appearances and leads Manhattan with 6.4 rebounds per game, going along with a 7.4 scoring average.
Sophomore forward Rhamel Brown has delivered superb minutes off the bench. In the Jaspers last four wins, Brown has produced 9.8 points, 9.3 rebounds, 5.3 blocks and 1.8 steals in only 21.8 minutes per game. The 6'6" 215-pound forward from Brooklyn has swatted five or more shots in four of Manhattan's last six games.
Jaspers' senior guards Kidani Brutus and Liam McCabe-Moran have been able to stretch defenses with their outside shooting. McCabe-Moran is coming off his fifth double-digit scoring performance of the season as he has averaged 7.0 points off the bench. He is shooting 47.9% from the field and 45.7% from 3-point territory. McCabe-Moran and Brutus each lead the team with 16 3-point field goals this season. Brutus is averaging 6.5 points and a team-high 2.6 assists per game in 25.3 minutes of action.
Towson (0-10)
Towson is in search of its first victory of the season under the leadership of first year head coach Pat Skerry. A 19-year coaching veteran, Skerry came to Towson after one season as an assistant at the University of Pittsburgh.
The Tigers have played stiff competition this season, which includes games at Kansas, Michigan and at home against Oregon State. Towson is coming off a 71-57 loss at Coppin State on Wednesday despite a team-high 16 point effort from sophomore forward Marcus Damas.
Damas, a 6'7" 200-pound native of Bay Shore, N.Y., leads Towson with a 12.8 scoring average going along with 6.4 rebounds per game. Senior forward Robert Nwankwo bolsters the Tigers from line as he leads the team in rebounding (8.7 rpg) and blocks (18). The 6'8" 220 pound forward is also averaging double-figures with 12.0 points per game.
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