Game 21: Manhattan (13-7, 6-2) vs. Niagara (9-11, 4-4)
Sunday, January 22, 2012 at 4 p.m.
Draddy Gymnasium (2,345) - Riverdale, N.Y.
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Scouting Report
Manhattan (13-7, 6-2 MAAC)
Manhattan is riding the longest active winning streak in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) posting victories in its last four contests. The Jaspers have won 10 of their last 13 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 (39.0%), 3-point field goal percentage defense (31.6%), rebounding margin (+4.1), blocks (4.9 bpg) and defensive rebounding percentage (68.8%). In eight conference games, the Jaspers stingy defense has held opponents to 58.2 points per game.
George Beamon leads Manhattan and ranks fourth in the MAAC averaging 16.8 points per game. In MAAC contests, Beamon is second with a 17.9 scoring average. Beamon has four 20-point performances this season and has scored in double-figures in the last 34 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 leads the MAAC in free-throw percentage (83.1%) and he is third in 3-point field goal percentage (43.0%).
First year head coach Steve Masiello has used at least 10 players in all 20 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 started the first 19 games this season before sitting out with an injury against Marist on Friday. 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 68 assists are the fifth most in the MAAC. Alvarado has appeared in all 20 games this season, starting the last 16 contests. He is averaging 7.8 points per game.
Sophomore forward Rhamel Brown has been a force coming off the Manhattan bench. Brown leads the MAAC with 52 blocks and he is third with a 57.8% field goal percentage. He has three double-doubles this season and is averaging 5.3 rebounds per contest.
Jaspers' senior guard Kidani Brutus leads the team with 35 3-point field goals. The co-captain from the Bronx is shooting 47.8% (11-23) from beyond the arc in the last five games coming off the bench.
Niagara (9-11, 4-4 MAAC)
Niagara has won three straight contests and four of its last six games. The Purple Eagles hold a 4-4 conference mark and are coming off a 75-56 win at Canisius on Thursday.
Niagara is led by freshman guard Juan'ya Green who ranks second in the MAAC averaging 18.0 points going along with 4.4 assists per contest, which is third in the conference. The 6'3" guard from Philadelphia is shooting 41.9% from the field and leads the team with a 81.3% free-throw percentage.
Red-shirt freshman Antoine Mason, a 6'3" 210-pound guard, has started all 20 games this season and is averaging 14.9 points and 4.7 rebounds and he has 45 assists. Sophomore guard Marvin Jordan is the third Purple Eagle that is averaging double-figures with 11.5 points per game. He leads the MAAC with 49 3-point field goals.
Niagara is the second highest scoring team in the MAAC averaging 71.4 points per game. The Purple Eagles lead the league in turnover margin (+2.95).
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