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FAIRFAX, Va. - Manhattan (1-3) returns to action following the Thanksgiving holiday against George Mason (1-4) on Saturday, Nov. 29 with tip time slated for 4 p.m.
TOP STORYLINES
#1 - The Jaspers last played on Sunday, which culminated a brutal four-game, nine-day stretch that included games in Florida, Massachusetts and Connecticut.
#2 - Manhattan will be looking to rebound from a 14-point defeat to preseason CAA favorite Northeastern and is 7-2 following losses since the start of last season.
QUICK HITS
* George Mason is 3-0, all-time, against the Jaspers with the Patriots claiming an 81-61 victory in the teams' last meeting at the Patriot Center on Dec. 23, 2011.
* Seniors Emmy Andujar and Donovan Kates are the only two Manhattan players that remain from the that game. Andujar scored nine point with five rebounds while Kates had two points and two rebounds.
* In the teams' last match-up, George Mason shot a blistering 69.0 percent (20-for-29) after intermission en route to scoring 56 second-half points while breaking open what was a two-point game.
* The game with the Patriots is the second of three with teams from the Atlantic 10 for the Jaspers this season.
* A win against George Mason would give Manhattan its first in the state of Virginia since besting William & Mary 54-39 in the ESPN Bracket Buster event on February 21, 2009.
* The GMU contest is the fifth of a season-opening six-game road trip for the Jaspers, who will play their first 13 games in 11 different venues.
* Andujar scored a team-best 22 points with 10 rebounds and five assists earlier this season against UMass (11/18) and is averaging 10.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.5 steals each time out over eight career games against A-10 opposition while shooting 49.3 percent (33-for-67) from the field.
* In Manhattan's last game, Northeastern shot a blistering 66.7 percent (16-for-24) from the field in the first half and used a game-changing 18-1 run in opening up a 20-point halftime lead that the Jaspers were unable to recover from.
* Sophomore Tyler Wilson paced Manhattan in scoring (12 points) for the second time in his career against Northeastern. He also hit for double-figures for the second time this season and the third time in his career. This season, he is averaging 7.5 points per game to go along with a team-leading 3.0 assists (t-6th MAAC), 1.8 steals (t-8th MAAC) and 3.5 free throws per game.
* Despite the loss, the Jaspers limited the Huskies to just 21 second-half points, marking the team's top defensive performance for a half of basketball this season.
* Junior Shane Richards was named to the 2014 Basketball Hall of Fame (HOF) Tip-Off Springfield Bracket All-Tournament Team after averaging 15.5 points and 3.5 assists per game last weekend.
* Despite failing to notch double-figures for the first time this season against Northeastern, Richards continues to lead the Jaspers with 15.3 points per game (t-10th MAAC) while playing a team-leading 32.5 minutes each time out.
* Richards is also now alone in third place in Manhattan career annals with 153 three pointers, just 10 behind Luis Flores' second-place total of 163.
* Led by three steals from Andujar and Wilson, the Jaspers registered a season-best 10 thefts but saw their 12-game winning streak when notching double-figures snapped. A year ago, Manhattan went a perfect 11-0 when recording double-digits in steals.
* The Jaspers have forced forced at least 20 turnovers in three of their four games and rank second in the MAAC and 26th nationally with a +5.0 turnover margin.
* Freshman Calvin Crawford registered a career-high three blocks while nearly matching Manhattan's previous season total of five.
* After failing to score or grab a rebound in each of his first two collegiate games, Crawford averaged 7.5 points and 3.5 rebounds last weekend at the Mohegan Sun Arena.
* Northeastern made good on a blistering 94.7 percent (18-for-19) from the line after UMass converted on an equally staggering 93.1 percent (27-of-29) earlier in the week. All told, the Jaspers' four opponents have converted on 81.7 percent (98-for-120) from the line, including 88.9 percent (32-for-36) in the last five minutes of games and overtime.
* Manhattan limited Binghamton to one field goal while forcing seven turnovers over the final 10:57 of the first half en route to posting an easy 15-point win. All told, the Bearcats shot just 22.7 percent (6-for-22) shooting in the opening stanza.
* In the decisive first half, the Jasper reserves scored 22 points, led by Crawford (9) and sophomore Rich Williams (6).
* Manhattan outscored Binghamton in the paint (30-22), off turnovers (30-11), in second-chance opportunities (18-16) and from the bench (29-19).
* The Jaspers have forced the opposition into 18 offensive fouls that has led to 22 points over the first four games, highlighted by a pressuring the Bearcats into eight offensive fouls that led to 15 points.
* With last weekend's split, Manhattan is 5-2 on neutral courts and has 17 road/neutral wins since the start of last season. Since head coach Steve Masiello took over for the 2011-2012 season, the Jaspers are 9-8 in neutral site games and will play four in the regular season.
* Manhattan will play eight of their nine non-conference games either on the road or in neutral venues. Last season, Manhattan won seven of those games, highlighted by a victory at SEC member South Carolina.
* Six of the aforementioned nine non-league games will be against teams from the Atlantic 10 (3), ACC (2) and Big Ten (1).
* Andujar (11.5 ppg) (20th MAAC) and junior Ashton Pankey (10.3 ppg) (25th MAAC), like Richards, are averaging double-figures in scoring while pacing the squad in rebounding with 6.0 (t-11th MAAC) and 5.3 caroms (18th MAAC) each time out, respectively. Additionally, Pankey leads the Jaspers with 15 points, six rebounds and two blocks in the final five minutes of games and overtime.
* Manhattan's first four games and five of the Jaspers' nine non-conference games will appear on the ESPN family of networks. All told, Manhattan currently has five games slated for ESPN3 and one each for ESPN2 and ESPNU.
* In the annual MAAC Preseason Poll, the Manhattan was tabbed to finish third Andujar named to the Second Team and Pankey named to the Third Team.
* Since returning to Riverdale, Masiello has led the Jaspers to the program's fourth MAAC Championship as well as a pair of 20-plus win campaigns. In his first tenure, he was a part of two MAAC Championships and three 20-plus win seasons.
* All told, Masiello has been a part of three of the Manhattan's four MAAC championships and five of their 12 20-win seasons while accruing a 144-78 record.
* Now in his 19th season as either a player or a coach, Masiello has a career collegiate record of 422-188, including 301-160 on the sidelines, with one National Title, one National Championship appearance, two Final Four appearances, six Elite Eight berths, seven conference championships, 12 NCAA Tournament appearances and 15 20-win seasons.
KEY MATCH-UPS
* Win The Half - Manhattan is 21-1 since the start of last season when leading at the half.
* 70-Point Club - The Jaspers are also 17-2 since the beginning of last season when limiting the opposition to less than 70 points.
* Pick It Up Late - Over the final five minutes of the first four games, Manhattan is allowing the opposition to make good on 48.0 percent from the field while outrebunding the Jaspers by 2.5 caroms each time out.
* The Line - Last season, Manhattan ranked in the top-10 nationally in free throws and free throw attempts. In 2014-2015, the Jaspers rank 224th in attempts and 261st in makes.
* The Arc - George Mason is converting on just 27.8 percent from long range and averaging 4.0 triples each time out. Manhattan, meanwhile, is limiting the opposition to just 36.8 percent from deep and 4.5 per game.
ABOUT THE PATRIOTS
George Mason enters Saturday's game with a 1-4 record and lost three-straight to West Virginia, New Mexico and Charleston at the Puerto Rico Tip-Off Classic (PRTO). Junior Patrick Holloway paces the Patriots in scoring with 15.6 points per game while classmate Shevon Thompson is averaging 11.6 points and 11.6 rebounds per game and set the PRTO single-game record with 19 rebounds against the Lobos.
HISTORY LESSON
George Mason claimed the first meeting between the teams by a 78-66 count in the 2005 ESPN Bracket Buster before winning the return game in their 2005-2006 Final Four Season at Draddy Gymnasium by a 72-66 score. The teams then met on Dec. 23, 2011 with the Patriots posting an 81-61 victory.
THE LINE
Both teams are struggling from the line in the early part of the season with the Jaspers checking in at 60.7 percent and GMU at 59.3 percent.
NYC LINKS
George Mason junior Jalen Jenkins played his prep ball with Wilson at Cardinal Hayes in the Bronx.
HISTORY LESSON
Last year all seven of Manhattan's non-conference wins came either on the road or neutral courts. This season the Jaspers will play four road and four neutral site games during their non-league match-ups.
RICHARDS' CAREER NIGHT PACES MANHATTAN
Richards scored a career-high 24 points while also handing out a personal-best five assists, against no turnovers, in leading the Jaspers to a 78-63 win over Binghamton. Richards also paced the squad in scoring with 17 at Florida State and ranks among the MAAC leaders in scoring (15.3-10th) and three pointers/game (2.8-t-11th).
CAREER NIGHTS
Crawford (9 points) and sophomore Carlton Allen (7 points) also recorded career-highs in scoring in the Jaspers' 78-63 win over Binghamton.
NATIONALLY SPEAKING
Williams' alley oop dunk off a pass from Andujar at UMass with 0.8 seconds forced overtime while garnering top billing on SportsCenter's top plays for Tuesday, Nov. 18.
EARLY START
The game, which was televised nationally via ESPN2, started at 11 a.m., as part of the network's Tip-Off Marathon matched the earliest Manhattan start time since the Jaspers bested Maryland 87-84 on March 18, 2006 in the First Round of the NIT.
DOUBLE DOWN
Andujar led the way for the Manhattan against UMass with 21 points, 10 rebounds and five assists - all of which paced the team. For Andujar it was his fifth career double-double and third 20-plus point outing. Thus far, Andujar is second on the team in scoring (11.5 ppg) (20th MAAC), first in rebounding (6.0 rpg) (t-11th MAAC) and second in assists (2.8 apg) (t-11th MAAC) while shooting a team-best 46.3 percent (19-for-41) from the floor.
LENDING A HELPING HAND
Andujar, who has seen his scoring increase this season, also has been an adept facilitator during his time in Riverdale and has 267 career assists. With 19 more helpers he will crack the school's Top-10 career list for assists.
MANHATTAN SIGNS TWO FOR NEXT SEASON
Masiello has announced the signing of Nigeria natives Vincent Eze (6-8, 220) of Putnam Science (Conn.) and Akintoye Ojo (6-10, 230) of Cardinal Hayes for next season.
FLORIDA STATE NOTES
* Manhattan saw its 38-game streak of limiting the opposition to less than 50.0 percent shooting snapped while also losing for just the second time since the start of last season when leading by double-digits.
* Pankey scored 12 of his 14 points after halftime while converting a career-high 10 free throws.
* There were 65 fouls, including 35 Jasper infractions that were one off the school-record of 36.
NEW YORK STATE OF MIND
Manhattan boasts a roster of eight New York City natives and returns two starters and five key reserves that averaged at least 10 minutes a game a year ago.
RICHARDS LIGHTS IT UP FROM DOWNTOWN
Richards, the 2012-2013 MAAC Co-Rookie of the Year, averaged 8.3 points each time out en route to matching the single-season school-record with 77 three pointers and ranking fourth in the MAAC. He is currently tied for third in school history with 153 career triples.
WATCH AND LISTEN ON GOJASPERS.COM
For the 17th year, Manhattan Men's Basketball games will be broadcast live over the internet on GoJaspers.com. Former Jasper greats Brian Mahoney and Chris Williams return as the color analysts, alongside play-by-play broadcaster Christian Heimall. Each broadcast will begin with the “Steve Masiello Pre-Game Report” 15 minutes prior to the opening tip.
109TH SEASON OF JASPERS BASKETBALL
In its 109th season, the Manhattan men's basketball program boasts a 1309-1159 overall record and 258-275 MAAC mark in 34 seasons as a conference member. The Jaspers' storied men's basketball team was established in 1904-05 and served a two-year hiatus during the 1943-44 and 1944-45 season due to World War II.
WHAT'S A JASPER?
The unique nickname of Manhattan College's athletic teams, the Jaspers, comes from one of the College's most memorable figures, Brother Jasper of Mary, F.S.C., who served as the College's athletic director in the late 19th century. One of the greatest achievements of Brother Jasper was that he brought the then little-known sport of baseball to Manhattan College and became the team's first coach. Since Brother Jasper was also the Prefect of Discipline, he supervised the student fans at Manhattan baseball games while also directing the team itself. During one particularly warm and humid day when the college was playing a semi-pro baseball team called the Metropolitans, Brother Jasper noticed the Manhattan students were becoming restless and edgy with the team coming to bat in the seventh inning of a close game. To relieve the tension, Brother Jasper called timeout and told the students to stand up and stretch for a few minutes until the game resumed. Since the College annually played the New York Giants in the late 1880's and into the 1890's at the old Polo Grounds, the Manhattan College practice of the “seventh inning stretch” spread into the major leagues, where it has now become a time-honored custom practiced by millions of fans annually.
THIS IS MANHATTAN COLLEGE
• Manhattan College is one of 276 institutions in the United States with a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the nation's oldest and most widely known academic honor society. Phi Beta Kappa celebrates and advocates excellence in the liberal arts and sciences.
• All three of the College's professional programs — business, education and health, and engineering — are nationally accredited.
• The five undergraduate engineering programs — chemical, civil, computer, electrical and mechanical — are accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET, Inc).
• The School of Education is accredited by the Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC).
• The School of Business is one of 555 institutions in the world to be accredited by The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International.
• Seventeen alumni are members of the prestigious National Academy of Engineering — an impressive number for an institution the size of Manhattan College.
• Manhattan is one of few American colleges to have chapters of all five of the distinguished national honor societies: Beta Gamma Sigma, Kappa Delta Pi, Phi Beta Kappa, Sigma Xi and Tau Beta Pi.
• Distinguished alumni include Rudy Giuliani '65, former mayor of New York City; James Patterson '69, best-selling author; and Raymond Kelly '63, former commissioner of the New York City Police Department.
• Manhattan is one of only 182 remaining colleges founded in the United States before the Civil War.
UP NEXT
The Jaspers will open MAAC play at Fairfield on Friday, Dec. 5 with opening tip slated for 7 p.m.
