Lewisburg, PA - Manhattan trimmed an 11-point second-half deficit to one on pair of occasions but was unable to get any closer in dropping a 76-64 decision to Bucknell in the season opener for both teams at Sojka Pavilion.
The Jaspers now return home to host Winthrop on November 15 at 8:45 am in a game that will be televised by ESPN2 as part of the network's 24-Hour Tip-Off Marathon. Admission is free to all while free coffee will be provided as part of Manhattan's #JavaWithTheJaspers promotion. Please click HERE for more information.
Sophomore Thomas Capuano (Hastings-on-Hudson, NY / Iona Prep) scored all 11 of his points after halftime while notching a team-best five assists and three steals to pace the Jaspers on offense. Junior Zavier Turner (Indianapolis, IN / Ball State) added 10 points while classmate Ahmed Ismail (Cairo, Egypt / Colby CC) had nine points and a game-high nine rebounds.
Thanks to Ismail, Manhattan dominated the glass to the tune of a 45-31 advantage, leading to a 16-5 advantage on second-chance points.
The first half was a back-and-forth affair before with the Jaspers grabbing a 31-29 lead with just over a minute left in the first half following a Turner three pointer. Unfortunately, the Bison ripped off 11-straight points over the next 3:24 in opening up a 40-31 lead with 17:32 to play in the game.
Bucknell's lead would grow to 47-36 when Manhattan quickly got back in the game with nine-straight points in making it a two-point contest with 11:28 to play. Junior Zane Waterman (Winston-Salem, NC / Fayetteville Academy) got the rally started with a put-back dunk before Capuano drilled a three pointer and a jumper. Ismail then capped the spurt with a jumper of a Capuano pass.
The Bison would briefly quell the Jasper spurt and freshman Aaron Walker Jr. (Brooklyn, NY / Cardozo) brought the visitors to within one at 51-50 with just over eight minutes remaining. Bucknell quickly answered only to have Ismail again make it a one-point game with a layup.
Unfortunately, that would be as close as Manhattan would get as the Bison lead wouldn't dip below three the rest of the way.
Zach Thomas paced Bucknell with 23 points.