Box Score Box Score (HTML) | Box Score (PDF)Riverdale, NY - Shane Richards (New York, NY / York Prep) converted
this three-point play with just 1.2 seconds to play in lifting Manhattan to a thrilling 69-67 victory over George Mason at Draddy Gymnasium.
Playing with just five scholarship players, the Jaspers improved to 1-2 while avoiding losing three straight to start the season for the first time since the 2005-2006 season. The Patriots, which recently defeated Oklahoma State and Ole Miss, fall to 2-4 in defeat.
Junior Rich Williams (Brooklyn, NY / Vermont Academy (VT)) led the way with a career-high 26 points, nine rebounds and four blocks. Richards scored 11 of his 13 points after halftime while becoming the 37th member of the Manhattan 1,000-point club. Freshman Thomas Capuano (Hastings-on-Hudson, NY / Iona Prep) rounded out the double-digit scorers with a career-high 14 points to go along with five steals and four assists, against no turnovers.
The Jaspers also forced 25 turnovers - the most since pressuring Niagara into 25 miscues on February 9, 2014 - while rallying from a 16-point second-half deficit - the most since overcoming an 18-point second-half deficit at Iona on January 12, 2012 - as Steve Masiello become the sixth coach in school history to reach the 80-win mark.
George Mason jumped out to what appeared to be an insurmountable 49-33 advantage with 17:28 to play in the second half when Manhattan went to work.
Williams canned a pair at the line before junior Tyler Wilson (Bronx, NY / Cardinal Hayes) hit a running layup. Capuano followed suit with a fastbreak layup off a pass from Williams as Richards then converted another Patriot turnover to trim the deficit to 49-41 before Marquise Moore momentarily answered with a jumper. Williams promptly sank a three and before hitting a pair from the line and Richards drained a jumper to make it a 51-50 game at the 11:20 mark. Following a pair of George Mason free throws, Williams canned his third triple of the game to draw Manhattan even at 53-53 while capping a 20-4 run.
The final 10 minutes would be a back-and-forth affair before the Patriots appeared to be in control as Grayer converted two free throws to give the visitors a 67-64 advantage with 1:10 remaining. Capuano, however, would have none of that in finding Williams for a layup with the shot clock winding down before George Mason was lured into an offensive foul on the ensuing possession while setting up Richards' eventual game-winning three-point play.
Wilson facilitated the offense with seven assists, against just two turnovers, while adding four steals and four points over 37 minutes. Junior Zane Waterman (Winston-Salem, NC / Fayetteville Academy) added nine points with a career-high nine rebounds to lead the frontcourt effort. Freshman Matt Maloney (Somers, NY / Somers) was huge off the bench with 20 turnover-free minutes to go along with a clutch late-game three pointer.
Jaire Grayer led the visitors with 15 points while Marko Gujanicic added 14 points and 10 rebounds.
The Jaspers allowed the Patriots to shoot 50.0 percent (22-for-44) from the floor and win the battle of the boards (40-25), but parlayed 25 miscues into a 24-9 advantage in points off turnovers.
Manhattan returns to action on Saturday, November 28 at Fordham in the annual Battle of the Bronx with opening tip slated for 5:00 pm.
