新泽西州泽西城——为了寻求赛季最高的四连胜，曼哈顿队将于1月16日星期五晚上7点客场挑战圣彼得队，这场比赛将在ESPN3上直播。两支球队9天前刚刚相遇，雅斯贝勒以68-63大胜。曼哈顿在12点50分的时间里连投9次，开始了两队之间的最后一次交锋，并取得了赛季最佳的50.0%的命中率。
#3 - In their last game, an 84-75 win over Niagara, the Jaspers forced a season-high matching 23 turnovers and rank fifth nationally with 17.5 forced turnovers per game.
QUICK HITS
* Manhattan leads the all-time series between the teams by a dominating 74-48 count.
* Steve Masiello is 8-0, all-time, against Saint Peter's since assuming the head coaching reigns in 2011-2012 and was 7-2 against the Peacocks as an assistant during his first tenure in Riverdale.
* During their current eight-game winning streak against Saint Peter's, the Jaspers have been victorious by an average of 13.0 ppg while holding the Peacocks to less than 70 points in each game.
* Masiello is a perfect 7-0 as a head coach in the state of New Jersey.
* The Jaspers most recently posted a pair of wire-to-wire victories at home after besting Canisius 63-60 in recording their first true road win after claiming 12 a year ago.
* Each of the last three Manhattan wins have come by 10 points or less, giving the Jaspers four on the year, including three by five points or less.
* Senior Emmy Andujar and Ashton Pankey led Manhattan last week with each student-athlete averaging 18.5 points per game.
* In their most recent victory over Niagara, the Jaspers scored a season-high 84 points while placing five student-athletes in double-figures for the first time since last year's opener at La Salle.
* Did You Know? The game against the Purple Eagles also marked the first time this season Manhattan had four players in double-figures.
* Junior Shane Richards led the charge with 22 points in notching his third career 20-point game and the seventh by a Jasper this season.
* Over his last six games, Richards is averaging 15.0 points per game while shooting 48.3 percent (28-for-58) from the floor, including 48.9 percent (22-for-45) from long range .
* Richards, who was honored for breaking Manhattan's career three-point record before the Saint Peter's game, ranks among the MAAC leaders in scoring (12.5-14th), three-point field goal percentage (.389-11th), and three pointers/game (2.8-3rd) while making good on at least four threes six times this year, including in four of the last six games.
* Pankey just narrowly missed hitting for 20, finishing up with 19 points and seven rebounds while Andujar chipped in with 16 points,, seven points, three assists and a career-high match four steals.
* The trio of Andujar, Pankey and Richards all hit for double-figures for the second time this season while helping the Jaspers convert on 47.3 percent from the floor against Niagara. It also marked the sixth time in seven games that Manhattan has hit on at least 45.0 percent after doing so just twice in its first eight games.
* Andujar paced the offense in first meeting with Saint Peter's finishing with a game-high 21 points in becoming the 36th member of the Jaspers' 1,000-point club. With one more assist will become the first player in school history to notch 1,000 points, 600 rebounds and 300 assists.
* For Andujar, his offensive showing against Saint Peter's was his third 20-plus point performance of the season and the fifth of his career. On the year, he is averaging 13.9 points (10th MAAC), 6.9 rebounds (6th MAAC), 3.1 assists (8th MAAC), 1.9 steals (3rd MAAC), 2.6 offensive rebounds (4th MAAC) and 4.4 defensive rebounds (10th MAAC) per game while shooting 51.4 percent (6th MAAC) with a 0.8 assist/turnover rate (9th MAAC).
* Against the Peacocks, Manhattan made nine-straight shots to start the game and didn't miss a field goal attempt over the first 12:50 of the game en route to shooting a season-high 50.0 percent (17-for-34) from the field while also converting a season-best 78.9 percent (30-for-38) from the line.
* The Jaspers' 34 field goal attempts represent a season-low by a MAAC team this season as Manhattan attempted more free throws (38) than field goals (34) for the first time since a 71-70 win at Columbia on Feb. 12, 2013.
* Pankey, who finished up with 18 points, nine rebounds and three blocks against Saint Peter's, while narrowly missing his third career double-double and, like Andujar, ranks among the MAAC leaders in points (11.1 ppg-19th), rebounds (6.5-9th), offensive rebounds (2.2-8th), defensive rebounds (4.3-11) and field goal percentage (.518-5th) while also registering 1.1 blocks per game (8th MAAC).
* The duo of Andujar and Pankey also helped limit Saint Peter's to just 12.5 percent (2-of-16) shooting from long range while matching the fewest three pointers allowed against a MAAC team this season. The mark has been accomplished on eight occasions, with four of them coming from the Manhattan defense.
* Over the last three games, the Jaspers have held the opposition to just 20.8 percent (11-of-53) shooting from long range and lead the league and rank 51st nationally in three-point defense (.305).
* Helping to set up the big three of Andujar, Pankey and Richards of late has been RaShawn Stores. Last week, the senior point guard averaged 10.0 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.5 steals each time out with just one turnover in 59 minutes of action. On the year, he is averaging 5.2 points and 2.4 assists per game with a 3.4 assist/turnover rate.
* Over his last five games as well as during MAAC play, Stores has handed out 18 assists, against just two turnovers, while posting a 9.0 assist/turnover ratio.
* Rounding out the double-digit performers against Niagara was Cincinnati transfer sophomore Jermaine Lawrence, who scored a career-high 11 points with five rebounds and two blocks.
* Over the last six games - five of which have been Manhattan wins - the Jaspers are holding opposing teams to just 28.7 percent (27-of-94) shooting from deep.
* Manhattan has also converted on 77.8 percent (42-of-54) from the line over the final five minutes during that time, including hitting 14-straight over the final 2:37 in the win over Niagara.
* Led by Andujar and Pankey, the Jasper upperclassmen combined for 94.1 percent (64-of-68) of the scoring and 96.1 percent (25-of-26) of the rebounding vs. Saint Peter's.
* Sophomore Tyler Wilson had a solid game against Canisius, finishing with six points and four assists, against just one turnover, and has now handed out at least four helpers seven times this season. Wilson continues to rank among the MAAC leaders in assists (3.2-6th), steals (1.3-11th) and assist/turnover ratio (1.3-6th).
* The Jaspers have pressured the opposition into at least 16 turnovers in 11 of their 15 games and rank 51st nationally with a +2.4 turnover margin.
* This will be the seventh of 11 games for Manhattan that will appear on the ESPN family of networks. The Jaspers currently have seven games slated for ESPN3, two for ESPNU and one for ESPN2. The Jaspers are just 1-5 when playing on some form of ESPN this season.
* Senior Donovan Kates became the sixth different Jasper to miss a game this season against Morgan State. Kates (1), Stores (2), sophomore Jermaine Lawrence (4), classmate Carlton Allen (8), freshman Samson Usilo (15) and classmate Zane Waterman (5) have combined to miss 35 games this season.
* Since returning to Riverdale, Masiello has led the Manhattan 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 member of three of the Jaspers' four MAAC Championship teams and five of their 12 20-win seasons while accruing a 149-83 record.
* In his 19th season as either a player or a coach, Masiello has a career collegiate record of 428-193, including 307-172 on the sidelines, with one National Title, two National Championship appearances, two Final Four appearances, six Elite Eight berths, seven conference championships, 12 NCAA Tournament appearances and 15 20-win seasons.
KEY MANHATTAN MATCH-UPS
* Be Prepared To Be Punched - Manhattan has won eight-straight against Saint Peter's and will most likely be facing a fired up Peacock squad that will be looking for its first win over the Jaspers since the 2010-2011 season.
* Stick To The Script - Manhattan has won five-of-six thanks to forcing turnovers, converting from the line in crunch time and shooting at a high rate.
* Limit Dominique/Washington - In the teams' first meeting the duo of Marvin Dominique and Desi Washington were limited to just 12 points, on 4-of-14 shooting. For the Jaspers to have success they will need to have a repeat performance defensively.
BIG THREE
On the year the big three of Andujar, Pankey and Richards have combined to account for 26 of the Jaspers' 35 double-figure scoring performances.
HOME COOKING
Manhattan is a perfect 4-0 at home this year and has won seven-straight and 13-of-14 dating back to last season. Masiello is also 29-11 at Draddy since taking over as head coach. This year at home, the Jaspers are limiting the opposition to just 61.2 ppg and 41.9 percent shooting, including 25.4 percent from deep.
LOCK IT UP
Manhattan is a perfect 6-0 when leading at the half and 6-1 when holding an advantage with five minutes to play.
RICHARDS GETS MANHATTAN BACK ON TRACK
After going 12-4 in true road games a year ago, the Jaspers won their first road game of the year at Canisius by a 63-60 count thanks to a season-high 18 points and a career-best 10 rebounds from Richards. Fueled by five three pointers, the Jaspers also made good on 42.9 percent (9-for-21) from deep, including 50.0 percent (7-for-14) after halftime.
MORE RICHARDS
Richards' first career double-double and his 10 rebounds marked the fourth time a Manhattan has achieved both standards this season. His five triples also represent the first time in his career that he has converted at least three in four-straight games
CAPTAIN CLUTCH
Three of Richards' five pointers came after Canisius took the lead in the second half. All told, the Golden Griffins held the lead on four different occasions only to see the Jaspers reclaim the lead on the subsequent possession each time.
FROM THE LINE
Despite making good on just 64.2 percent from the line this year, the Jaspers converted on a season-high 78.9 percent (30-for-38) from the line against Saint Peter's and closed out the win over Niagara by converting 14-straight. Manhattan made good on 75.0 percent (9-of-12) over the final five minutes against Saint Peter's and made good on 10-of-12 (.833) to seal the Fordham win and 8-of-10 (.800) in the Morgan State victory.
HOME SWEET HOME
The Jaspers are in the midst of a six-game stretch that includes four home games after playing 11 of their first 13 games in different venues.
I FINALLY GOT THE VENUE I WANTED
Manhattan will be playing in its 12th different venue this year when the Jaspers
SECOND-HALF IMPROVEMENT
Andujar (8.4 ppg - 5.4 ppg) and Pankey (6.9 ppg - 4.2 ppg) have improved their scoring by more than two points after halftime this season compared to the first half.
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.
RICHARDS LIGHTS IT UP FROM DOWNTOWN
Richards, the 2012-2013 MAAC Co-Rookie of the Year matched the single-season Manhattan school record with 77 three pointers a year ago and is currently third in the league and 47th nationally with 2.8 threes per game. He is first in school history with 184 career triples after breaking the record against Morgan State.
NEW YORK STATE OF MIND
The Jaspers 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.
WATCH AND LISTEN ON leslieschultz.com
For the 17th year, Manhattan Men's Basketball games will be broadcast live over the internet on leslieschultz.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.”
109TH SEASON OF JASPERS BASKETBALL
In its 109th season, the Manhattan men's basketball program boasts a 1315-1164 overall record and 262-277 MAAC mark in 35 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
Manhattan hosts Rider on Sunday, Jan. 18 at 2 p.m.
