Game 32: #3 Manhattan (20-11, 12-6) vs. #6 Siena (13-16, 8-10)
2012 MAAC Tournament Quarterfinals
Saturday, March 3, 2012 at 9:30 p.m.
MassMutual Center (7,079) - Springfield, Mass.
MAAC Basketball Postseason Awards Show Live at MAAC.tv
Thurs., March 1 at 6:30 p.m.
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Scouting Report
#3 Manhattan (20-11, 12-6 MAAC)
Manhattan enters the 2012 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championships coming off its best regular-season since 2005-06. The Jaspers enter the conference tournament as the #3 seed after posting a 12-6 record in MAAC contests, as well as a 20-11 overall record. It is only the 11th time in its 106-year history that the program has seen a 20-win campaign. The Jaspers finished the regular season strong winning 11 of their last 15 contests.
Jaspers' first year head coach Steve Masiello has orchestrated the biggest turnaround in NCAA Division I by posting 14 more wins than last season with a team coming off a 6-25 overall record and last place finish in the MAAC. Masiello has implemented a hard-nosed, high energy style that has transformed Manhattan into one of the premier defensive teams in the conference.
Manhattan led the MAAC through the regular-season in several defensive categories, including field goal defense (40.1%), 3-point field goal defense (32.2%) and blocked shots (4.9 bpg). On the offensive side of the court, the Jaspers were one of the top three teams in free-throw percentage (73.1%), 3-point field goal percentage (36.5%) and scoring offense (70.7 ppg).
Jaspers' junior George Beamon led the MAAC in scoring through the regular-season averaging 18.4 points. The 6'4" guard was even better in conference games with 19.6 points per game. He also led Manhattan in rebounding (5.6 rpg) and steals (44), and stands in the top-10 of the MAAC in 3-point field goal percentage (41.2%), steals (1.5 spg) and free-throw percentage (80.0%). Beamon earned a spot on the 2012 All-MAAC First Team
Sophomore forward Rhamel Brown was the most dominant defensive player in the MAAC during the regular-season. Brown set a program single season record with 79 blocks and he entered the week ranked 19th in NCAA Division I with 2.5 blocks per game.
Manhattan has also received solid contributions from freshman forward Emmy Andujar who garnered MAAC All-Rookie Team honors. Andujar started 29 of 30 appearances during the regular-season. He filled the stat sheet with 8.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game.
#6 Siena (13-16, 8-10 MAAC)
The Saints have rallied behind the superb play from 2012 All-MAAC First Team selection OD Anosike and MAAC All-Rookie Team honoree Evan Hymes. Siena made a late charge winning three of their last five games of the regular-season to grab the #6 seed at the MAAC Tournament, avoiding the First Round.
Anosike started all 29 games for Siena during and he leads the country with 22 double-doubles. The 6'8" 232-pound junior from Staten Island also leads nation in rebounding (12.9 rpg) and averaged a team-best 15.1 points per game.
Hymes has been a pleasant surprise for the Saints as the four-time MAAC Rookie of the Week averaged 13.9 points and he dished out 100 assists starting 28 of 29 appearances at the point.
Siena also ranks atop the MAAC in several defensive categories. The Saints are second to Manhattan in field goal percentage defense (40.2%) and they lead the conference in defensive rebounds (24.8 rpg) and defensive rebounding percentage (68.0%).
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