Game 20: Manhattan (12-7, 5-2) vs. Marist (7-11, 2-5)
Friday, January 20, 2012 at 9 p.m.
McCann Center (3,200) - Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
MAAC National Game of the Week on ESPN3.com
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Scouting Report
Manhattan (12-7, 5-2 MAAC)
Manhattan is riding the longest active winning streak in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) posting victories in its last three contests. The Jaspers have won nine of their last 12 contests, a hot streak which began on Dec. 2 with a 71-55 triumph at Rider.
The Jaspers are one of the top defensive teams in the MAAC. Manhattan leads the conference in field goal percentage defense (39.9%), 3-point field goal percentage defense (32.0%), rebounding margin (+3.4), blocks (4.8 bpg) and defensive rebounding percentage (68.5%). In seven conference games, the Jaspers stingy defense has held opponents to 60.3 points per game.
George Beamon leads Manhattan and ranks fourth in the MAAC averaging 17.1 points per game. In MAAC contests Beamon is tied for the league lead with an 18.7 scoring average. Beamon has four 20-point performances this season and has scored in double-figures in the last 33 contests dating back to last season. Beamon is the reigning MAAC Player of the Week and he was named the Lou Henson Mid-Major National Player of the Week by CollegeInsider.com after averaging 22.5 points and 7.0 rebounds last week in wins over Iona and Siena. Beamon ranks second in the MAAC for free-throw percentage (83.9%) and he is third in 3-point field goal percentage (44.0%).
First year head coach Steve Masiello has used at least 10 players in all 19 games this season in the new up-tempo style he has instilled on the Jaspers. The wide spread attack has featured solid contributions from freshman forward Emmy Andujar and sophomore point guard Michael Alvarado.
Andujar is the only Jasper to start all 19 games this season. He is averaging 8.9 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game. Alvarado is the team's assist leader with 3.4 per game and his 64 assists are the fifth most in the MAAC. Alvarado has appeared in all 19 games this season, starting the last 15 contests. He is averaging 7.5 points per game.
Sophomore forward Rhamel Brown has been a force coming off the Manhattan bench. Brown leads the MAAC with 48 blocks and he is third with a 58.6% field goal percentage. He has two double-doubles this season and is averaging 4.9 rebounds per contest.
Jaspers' senior guard Kidani Brutus leads the team with 34 3-point field goals. The co-captain from the Bronx has averaged 10.6 points and he is shooting 55.6% (15-27) from 3-point territory coming off the bench in the last five games.
Marist (7-11, 2-5 MAAC)
Marist is on a four game losing streak which began on Jan. 6 with a 99-86 loss at Rider. The Red Foxes are coming off an 86-67 setback at Niagara on Sunday.
The Red Foxes are led by junior guard Devin Price who is averaging 14.2 points per game and has 33 3-pointers in 18 starts this season. Freshman wing Chavaughn Lewis has posted 12.8 points in 18 games coming off the bench. Lewis leads Marist with 25 steals.
Adam Kemp, a 6'10" 235-pound forward, has been the Red Foxes top big man as he is averaging 9.7 points and a team-best 7.3 rebounds per game. Kemp is second in the MAAC in blocked shots (2.2 bpg), behind Manhattan forward Rhamel Brown (2.5 bpg).
Marist is fourth in the conference averaging 71.0 points per game, but rank last in the MAAC yielding 77.5 points per game.
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