Game 11: Manhattan (6-4) vs. Hofstra (3-6)
Saturday, December 10, 2011 at 4 p.m.
Mack Sports Complex (5,054) - Hempstead, N.Y.
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Scouting Report
Manhattan (6-4)
Manhattan is riding its longest winning streak in two years as it has picked up three consecutive victories and already matched its win total from last season (6). The Jaspers stingy defense has limited these three opponents to only 48.0 points per game, while Manhattan has averaged 73.3 points during the triumphs.
First year head coach Steve Masiello's new up-tempo system utilizes a deep bench in which at least 10 players have appeared in all 10 games this season. Manhattan's defense has been a cornerstone to its early success. The Jaspers lead the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference holding opponents to a 39.6% field goal percentage defense, going along with a 30.5% mark from beyond the arc.
Manhattan is led by junior guard George Beamon who is averaging 16.0 points per game, the sixth highest scoring total in the MAAC. Beamon, a Preseason All-MAAC Second Team selection, is the conference's top free-throw shooter with a 92.9% (39-42) mark at the line. He is also averaging 5.0 rebounds and leads Manhattan with 14 steals.
Senior Roberto Colonette and Rhamel Brown have anchored the Jaspers post production. Colonette is Manhattan's top rebounder with 6.6 boards per game, going along with a 7.7 scoring average through 10 games this season. Brown has been dominant off the Manhattan bench in the last three wins averaging 8.3 points, 8.7 rebounds and 5.0 blocks. Brown ranks among the top shot blockers in NCAA Division I averaging a MAAC best 2.6 rejections per contest.
Jaspers' point guard Michael Alvarado has worked his way into the starting line up for the last six games. As a starter, Alvarado is averaging 11.0 points, 3.0 assists, while shooting 83.3% (25-30) at the free-throw line. Alvarado is shooting 46.2% from the field as a starter and 55.6% (5-9) from 3-point territory.
Seniors Kidani Brutus and Liam McCabe-Moran have led Manhattan in 3-point shooting. Brutus, a co-captain from the Bronx, has a team-high 15 3-point field goals and he is averaging 6.7 points per game. McCabe-Moran is shooting a team-high 41.9% from downtown. He is coming off his fourth double-digit scoring effort in 10 games this season.
Freshmen Emmy Andujar and Donovan Kates have been key contributors in the Jaspers line up. Andujar is the only Manhattan player to start all 10 games this season. He is averaging 8.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and is shooting 47.6% (30-63) from the field. Kates has averaged 5.6 points and 2.1 rebounds with 11 3-point field goals this season.
Hofstra (3-6)
Hofstra is on a three game skid and has lost five of its last six contests. The Pride is led by senior Mike Moore who is averaging a team best 19.8 points and 6.4 rebounds per contest. The 6'5" guard is shooting 44.3% (54-122) from the field and he is 19-for-43 (44.2%) from 3-point territory.
Pride senior forward Nathaniel Lester is the only other Hofstra player to average double-figures with 13.2 points per game through nine starts. Lester has been Hofstra's most consistent free-throw shooter with an 82.0% mark at the charity stripe. He is also averaging 6.1 rebounds per game and he has a team-high 12 steals.
David Imes, a 6'7" junior forward, helped power the Hofstra front line through nine starts this season. Imes leads the Pride in blocked shots (10) and has averaged 7.1 points and 5.3 rebounds.
Hofstra is averaging 64.9 points this season, but has posted only 54.7 points per game in its last three losses. The Pride has allowed a 44.6% field goal percentage defense.
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