Game 26: Manhattan (17-8, 10-3) vs. Fairfield (13-10, 8-4)
Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 7:30 p.m.
Arena at Harbor Yard (5,298) - Bridgeport, Conn.
*Listen Live feature is available on most Smart Phones*
Game Notes Listen Live Yearbook
Live Stats Season Statistics Follow on Twitter
Scouting Report
Manhattan (17-8, 10-3 MAAC)
Manhattan is the most improved team in NCAA Division I standing with 17-8 overall with 11 more wins from last season. The Jaspers 10-3 MAAC record matches the program's best conference start since the 2005-2006 team also went 10-3 through its first 14 league games.
The Jaspers superb defense has been the team's backbone throughout the campaign. Manhattan entered the week tied for 29th in NCAA Division I with a 39.5% field goal defense. Manhattan also leads the MAAC with a 32.2% three-point field goal defense. Manhattan is tied for 24th in the nation averaging 5.2 blocks per game with sophomore forward Rhamel Brown contributing to the bulk of this production. Brown entered the week 19th in NCAA Division I averaging 2.6 blocks per contest.
On the rebounding front, Manhattan is the MAAC leader averaging 36.9 rebounds per game and tops the conference with a 67.9% defensive rebounding percentage. The Jaspers stand second in the league in free-throw shooting (72.9%), scoring margin (+6.3) and rebounding margin (+4.0).
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 19.2 points per game. Beamon has put up double-figures in the scoring column in the last 39 games and he has posted 20+ points in five of the last eight 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 averaging 12.7 points and shooting 51.7% from the field in the last three contests. Brutus has posted a team-high 48 3-pointers this season. Manhattan ranks second in the MAAC with 185 3-pointers.
Sophomore Michael Alvarado has been superb at the point guard position as he ranks fourth in the conference with 85 assists. Alvarado is averaging a team-high 3.4 assists per game to go along with a 8.2 scoring average. He is also fourth in the MAAC with 39 steals.
Emmy Andujar is one of the Jaspers top all around players as the freshman forward is averaging 8.4 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game. In the last four games, Andujar has averaged 5.3 assists per contest and boasts a 3.5 to 1 Assist:Turnover ratio.
In the post, senior forward Roberto Colonette and Brown have handled the bulk of the production. Colonette has averaged 6.4 points and 5.3 rebounds going along with 25 blocks and 26 steals. Brown has put up 7.5 points and 5.2 rebounds coming off the bench. He ranks third in the MAAC with a 57.5% field goal percentage.
Fairfield (13-10, 8-4 MAAC)
Fairfield is riding a three game win streak and has won five of their last six MAAC contests. The Stags are coming off a 64-56 victory over Siena on Sunday in Bridgeport, Conn.
Fairfield is led by 6'5" 228-pound forward Rakim Sanders who ranks fifth in the MAAC averaging 16.5 points per game and he is third with 8.4 rebounds per contest. The senior transfer from Boston College is shooting 50.5% from the field this season.
Fairfield is also receiving double-figures in scoring from junior guard Derek Needham (12.3 ppg). Needham is second in the MAAC with 61 3-point field goals. Senior center Ryan Olander (9.1 ppg) is third in the conference with 43 blocks.
The Stags lead the league holding opponents to 62.3 points per game and are third with a 41.6% field goal defense. Fairfield is also third in the league shooting 44.7% from the field as a team.
To follow Manhattan Athletics on Twitter, go to twitter.com/GoJaspers or visit Manhattan's Facebook fan page.