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RIVERDALE, N.Y. - Manhattan (12-11; 9-5 MAAC) welcomes Iona (19-6; 12-2 MAAC) on Friday, Feb. 13 at 10 p.m. in a game that will be televised on ESPNU.
TOP STORYLINES
#1 - The teams have met in the MAAC Championship games in each of the last two seasons while splitting the regular season match-ups the last three years.
#2 - Manhattan and Iona will both take part HEADstrong Foundation's #ProjectGameday in an effort to raise awareness and funds to fight blood cancer, in honor of play-by-play broadcaster Christian Heimall, who is fighting the disease. Both teams will wear lime green shoelaces to support the cause.
#3 - In the teams' last match-up, Manhattan defeated Iona 71-68 en route to winning the program's fourth MAAC Title on March 20, 2014.
QUICK HITS
* The Gaels, who captured the 2013 Championship by a 60-57 score, lead the all-time series by a 46-39 count, including going 43-30 since the teams joined the MAAC for the 1981-1982 season.
* Iona is 17-14, all-time, at Draddy Gymnasium but has seen Manhattan go 9-4 at home since the 2000-2001 season.
* Head Coach Steve Masiello is 4-4 against the Gaels as a head coach, including 4-1 in games decided by five points or less, after going 5-5 as an assistant (2001-2005).
* Senior Emmy Andujar averaged 17.0 ppg and 6.7 rpg while shooting 70.4 percent (19-of-27) from the floor last year vs. Iona.
* Andujar scored a career-high 28 points vs. the Gaels in last year's 80-77 overtime victory in the regular season finale before notching 12 points off the bench in the MAAC Championship Game.
* In seven career games against Iona, Andujar is averaging 14.1 ppg, 6.0 rpg and 3.4 apg while shooting 55.1 percent from the field and as a freshman hit the game-winning shot in New Rochelle to cap an 18-point Manhattan comeback.
* The Jaspers saw their four-game winning streak snapped on Sunday at Rider.
* Over the final five minutes and overtime, the Broncs outscored Manhattan 22-10 with the Jaspers going just 4-of-13 from the floor and 2-of-8 from the line.
* Despite the loss, Andujar finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds over a career-high 45 minutes of action in notching his fourth double-double of the year and the eighth of his career. The 11 caroms also represented his fourth double-figure performance this season and the 11th of his career.
* Over his last 10 games, Andujar is averaging a team-best 20.0 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 3.7 apg and 2.5 spg while shooting 52.9 percent from the floor and hitting for at least 20 points on seven occasions - highlighted by a season-high 27 points at Monmouth.
* Andujar, who is the only player in school history with 1,000 points, 600 rebounds, 300 assists and 100 steals, continues to lead Manhattan and rank among the MAAC leaders in scoring (16.3-5th), rebounding (7.2-6th), assists (3.4-5th), steals (2.0-2nd) (42nd NCAA) while also checking in third in field goal percentage (.521) (59th NCAA).
* At Rider, Andujar moved past former teammates Rhamel Brown (1,172) and Michael Alvarado (1,170 into 21st place on the Jaspers' all-time scoring list with 1,180 points. He is also eighth in program annals with 330 assists and 10th with 146 steals while his 684 rebounds are just outside the top-10.
* Joining Andujar with a double-double the last time out against Rider was junior Ashton Pankey, who scored 16 points and grabbed a career-high 12 caroms to go along with a career-best four assists and three steals. For the Maryland transfer, it was his second of the year and the third of his career.
* The multiple double-doubles marked the first time that Manhattan had two players record double-doubles since George Beamon (14 points, 10 rebounds) and Demetrius Jemison (13 points, 10 rebounds) did so at Loyola on Jan. 20, 2011.
* Like Andujar, Pankey has been outstanding over his last 10 games, averaging 16.1 ppg and 7.1 rpg while hitting for at least 16 points on seven occasions.
* Pankey ranks among the MAAC leaders in scoring (12.6 ppg-17th), rebounding (6.7 rpg-7th), field goal percentage (.530-2nd) and blocks (1.4 bpg-3rd) while hitting for at least 20 points on two occasions.
* Junior Shane Richards also had another solid game against the Broncs, finishing up with 18 points and five rebounds while going 4-of-9 from long distance.
* For his career, Richards has converted on at least three triples in 43 of his 88 games, and at least four in 22 games. When the New York City native hits at least four, the Jaspers are 16-6, including 12-3 over the last two seasons.
* Richards, who recently became the first player in school history with 200 three pointers (currently 207), is now just 12 three pointers shy of his single-season school record of 77 that he shares with Jeff Xavier.
* Over six career games against Iona, Richards is averaging 10.3 ppg while shooting 50.0 percent (18-of-36) from long range.
* Richards continues to rank among the MAAC leaders in scoring (13.3 ppg-12th), three pointers/game (2.8-2nd) (30th NCAA), three-point field goal percentage (.382-7th) and free throw percentage (.795-10th) while notching six 20-point performances.
* Andujar (9), Richards (6) and Pankey (2) have also combined for the 17 Manhattan 20-point outings and 46 of the Jaspers' 58 double-figure scoring performances while leading the squad in scoring in all but one game this season and accounting for 60.4 percent (955/1581), including 62.9 percent (629/1000) during MAAC play.
* The aforementioned trio of Andujar (20.0 ppg, 8.5 rpg), Richards (19.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg) and Pankey (17.0 ppg, 9.5 rpg) all had big performances against Rider this season.
* Despite not hitting for double-figures at Rider, sophomore Rich Williams had another solid game with eight points off the bench and is averaging 9.6 ppg while shooting 50.0 percent (18-for-36) from the floor and 50.0 percent (9-for-18) from long range. In the five games prior, Williams had scored just 10 points.
* In 11 games off the bench this season, Williams is averaging 7.2 ppg on 42.3 percent shooting compared to just 4.8 ppg on 36.1 percent from the field in 12 games as a starter.
* Manhattan is 13-3 in the months of February and March since the start of last season and is 19-6 over the last two-plus years.
* The Jaspers continue to rank fourth nationally with a MAAC-best 16.9 forced turnovers and has pressured the opposition into at least 16 turnovers in 16 of their 23 games.
* Manhattan also is first in the MAAC and 55th nationally with 7.5 steals per game while ranking second in the league and 67th overall with a +1.7 turnover margin.
* The Jaspers are 4-1 this year when recording at least 10 steals and is 15-1 dating back to last season. Additionally, Manhattan is 26-4 under Masiello when registering at least 10 steals, including 18-1 against MAAC opposition.
* Masiello and the Jaspers are 7-2 in 10-point games against MAAC opposition after going just 14-19 over his first three seasons.
* In those 10-point games, Manhattan is shooting 72.5 percent from the line while limiting the opposition to just 42.0 percent shooting, including 26.9 percent from deep while posting a +0.9 rebounding margin.
* When playing at Draddy Gymnasium, the Jaspers are 7-1 this year and has won 11-of-12 and 16-of-18. Additionally, the Manhattan is 32-12 at home under Masiello.
* Senior RaShawn Stores narrowly missed becoming his career double-double with nine assists to go along with nine points in the win at Monmouth and continues to rank among the league leaders in three point percentage (.403-2nd) and assists (3.0 apg-9th).
* During league play, Stores paces the MAAC in three-point percentage (.487) and assist/turnover ratio (3.1). In the second half of league games, Stores is shooting a blistering 62.9 percent (12-of-19) from distance, including 71.4 percent (5-of-7) in the final five minutes.
* Sophomore Tyler Wilson had a big game in the first win over Monmouth finishing with six assists and has now handed out at least four on 10 occasions. Wilson continues to rank among the MAAC leaders in assists (3.0 apg-8th), steals (1.2 spg-11th) and assist/turnover ratio (1.3-7th).
* 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 member of three of Manhattan''s four MAAC Championship teams and five of their 12 20-win seasons while accruing a 155-86 record.
* In his 19th season as either a player or a coach, Masiello has a career collegiate record of 433-197, including 312-169 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.
Keys To The Game
* Defense - Manhattan will need to contain an Iona team that is averaging 82.4 ppg and has scored at least 70 in all but one game this season.
* The Big Three - Andujar, Pankey and Richards have been outstanding of late and will need to keep it up against a potent Gael offense that features four players averaging 14.0 ppg or more.
* The Bench - The Jaspers' bench has been extremely productive of late and will be counted on against a Iona team that goes on average eight deep.
SURGING
Manhattan is 4-1 over its last five games thanks to averaging 80.0 ppg while shooting 47.5 percent from the field, including 41.0 percent from deep, after notching just 65.5 ppg on 42.8 percent shooting, including 31.8 percent from distance.
THE WORLDWIDE LEADER
Three of the Jaspers' final six games will appear on the ESPN family of networks beginning with Friday's game. All told 15 Manhattan games will appear on some form of ESPN this season.
RIDER MUSINGS
The Jaspers are 9-2 when scoring at least 70 points with both losses coming to Rider ... The Broncs also became just the second team in the last two seasons to take the season series from Manhattan ... The Jaspers also fell to 1-6 when allowing the opposition to convert on at least 50 percent of its shots and 0-6 when shooting less than 40 percent.
STAR POWER
Friday's game will feature six players David Laury (21.0 ppg, 9.4 rpg), A.J. English (19.6 ppg, 5.6 rpg), Schadrac Casmir (15.1 ppg), Andujar (16.3 ppg, 7.2 rpg), Richards (13.3 ppg) and Pankey (12.6 ppg, 6.7 rpg) that have a strong chance at earning MAAC accolades at the conclusion of the season.
TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT
During league play, the Manhattan is 7-2 in games decided by 10 points or less.
SECOND-HALF IMPROVEMENT
Andujar (9.4 ppg - 6.4 ppg) and Pankey (7.7 ppg - 4.9 ppg) have improved their scoring by more than two points after halftime this season compared to the first half.
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.
MEET THE STAFF
Masiello is on the bench by Matt Grady, Rasheen Davis, Mike Bramucci, Stephen Elmore, Roberto Colonette, Heshimu Evans and Kidani Brutus. Grady, who is in his fourth year, and Davis, who is in his third, will serve as Associate Head Coaches while Bramucci will be an assistant coach in his second season after returning to Riverdale last year as the Director of Men's Basketball Operations. Elmore, who arrives from The Citadel, will assume Bramucci's position from a year ago while Colonette will again be the Strength & Conditioning Coach. Evans, meanwhile, joins the staff as an Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach after a 15-year professional career. Evans played two seasons at Manhattan as a collegian and two more at Kentucky where he helped the Wildcats to the 1998 NCAA National Championship. The appointment of Brutus, a former Jasper standout like Colonette, as a Special Assistant to Masiello rounds out the coaching staff.
SO HARD TO SAY GOODBYE
For the first time in Masiello's tenure on Riverdale he will not have the luxury of having the trio of Michael Alvarado, George Beamon and Rhamel Brown at his disposal. All three notched over 1,000 points and have begun their professional careers. Beamon, a two-time MAAC First Team Selection and MAAC Championships MVP, was recently picked in the Third Round of the NBA Development League Draft by the Oklahoma City Blue while Brown, a three-time MAAC Defensive Player of the Year, is playing in Israel. Alvarado, a Third Team All-MAAC pick, played this past summer in Puerto Rico. The trio accounted for 50.4 percent of the offense and 38.7 percent of the rebounding.
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 1320-1167 overall record and 267-280 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.
UP NEXT
Manhattan will host Fairfield on Sunday, Feb. 15 at 2 p.m.
