Jaspers Tame Stags With Dominant Second Half

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Atlantic City, NJ - No. 9 Manhattan opened the 2020 Hercules Tires MAAC Championship with a rousing 61-43 win over No. 8 Fairfield in first round play at the Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall.

The Jaspers will next play against top-seeded Siena on Wednesday, March 11 at 7:00 pm.

Senior Pauly Paulicap (Elmont, NY / Harcum College) registered his ninth career double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds to lead a Green & White outfit that outscored the Stags by a 42-24 count after halftime.

Trailing 23-21 with 17:42 to play in regulation, sophomore Samir Stewart (Fort Lauderdale, FL / American Heritage) drained a three pointer to spark an 11-2 run that gave Manhattan a 32-25 lead at the first media stoppage of the second half. After Fairfield briefly answered with three free throws, Stewart drained another huge three pointer to kickstart an 11-1 spurt that gave the Jaspers an insurmountable 43-29 lead with 9:43 remaining.

The Green & White lead wouldn't dip below double-figures the rest of the way, and would grow to 20 late in the contest.

Manhattan limited Fairfield to just 25.0 percent (11-of-44) shooting, while dominating the glass by a 41-30 count, in arguably its finest defensive performance of the year.

Stewart had 11 points and six assists, against just one turnover, while sophomore Christian Hinckson (Queens, NY / Tilton School (NH)) had 10 points and nine rebounds to round out the double-figure performers for the Jaspers.

Manhattan shot a blistering 47.1 percent (8-of-17) from long range and 68.4 percent (13-of-19) from the line.

Taj Benning paced Fairfield with 10 points.

The Jaspers improve to 13-18 with the victory, while the Stags end their season with a 12-20 record.