Game 28: Manhattan (18-9, 11-4) vs. Siena (11-14, 6-9)
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 7 p.m.
Times Union Center (8,444) - Albany, N.Y.
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Scouting Report
Manhattan (18-9, 11-4 MAAC)
Manhattan is the most improved team in NCAA Division I standing with 18-9 overall with 12 more wins from last season. The Jaspers 11-4 MAAC record is the program's best conference start since the 2005-2006 season.
The Jaspers superb defense has been the team's backbone throughout the campaign. Manhattan is in the top-40 of NCAA Division I with a 39.8% field goal defense. Manhattan also leads the MAAC with a 32.5% three-point field goal defense. Manhattan is tied for 28th in the nation averaging 5.0 blocks per game with sophomore forward Rhamel Brown contributing to the bulk of this production. Brown entered the week 18th in NCAA Division I averaging 2.6 blocks per contest.
On the rebounding front, Manhattan is the MAAC leader averaging 36.6 rebounds per game, a 68.0% defensive rebounding percentage and a +4.0 rebounding margin. The Jaspers stand second in the league in free-throw shooting (73.1%), scoring margin (+6.4).
Junior guard George Beamon leads Manhattan averaging 17.8 points per game, which is the second highest scoring average in the conference. In MAAC games, Beamon has recorded a league best 19.0 points per game. Beamon has put up double-figures in the scoring column in the last 41 games and he has posted 20+ points in five of the last 10 games. Beamon is the Jaspers top rebounder averaging 5.6 boards per contest.
Kidani Brutus has been a spark off the Manhattan bench as of late. The senior guard is shooting 47.4% (18-38) from the field in the last five contests. Brutus has posted a team-high 51 3-pointers this season. Manhattan ranks fourth in the MAAC with 195 3-pointers.
Sophomore Michael Alvarado has been superb at the point guard position as he ranks fourth in the conference with 90 assists. Alvarado is averaging a team-high 3.3 assists per game to go along with a 8.7 scoring average. He is also tied for third in the MAAC with 42 steals.
Emmy Andujar is one of the Jaspers top all around players as the freshman forward is averaging 8.2 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. In the last five games, Andujar has averaged a team-high 3.6 assists per game.
In the post, senior forward Roberto Colonette and Brown have handled the bulk of the production. Colonette has averaged 6.3 points and 5.3 rebounds going along with 26 blocks and 27 steals. Brown has put up 7.6 points and 5.1 rebounds coming off the bench. He ranks second in the MAAC with a 57.7% field goal percentage.
Siena (11-14, 6-9 MAAC)
Siena has dropped four of its last five contests and return from a three game road series. The Saints are coming off a 60-50 victory on Saturday at Canisius behind 15 points from senior guard Kyle Downey. Downey added seven rebounds, three assists and two steals to his stat line.
The Saints are led by junior OD Anosike who is averaging 14.8 points and 13.0 rebounds per game. Anosike, a 6'8" power forward from Staten Island, is coming off his 19th double-double of the year as he finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds in the Saints win at Canisius.
Siena freshman point guard Evan Hymes has averaged 14.0 points per game this season. Hymes has a team-high 49 3-pointers and is averaging 3.4 assists per game. Downey is also averaging double-figures in scoring with 12.6 points per game. Downey leads the MAAC shooting 85.3% at the free-throw line.
The Saints rank towards the top of the MAAC in several defensive categories. Siena ranks only behind Manhattan in the conference in field goal defense (39.9%) and has limited opponents to 65.1 points per game (4th). Siena also ranks behind the Jaspers in rebounding (36.3 rpg) and are fifth in 3-point field goal defense (35.7%).
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