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RIVERDALE, N.Y. - Manhattan (11-10; 8-4 MAAC) hosts Canisius (12-9; 7-5 MAAC) on Friday, Feb. 6 at 7 p.m. in a game that will be streamed live via ESPN3.
TOP STORYLINES
# 1 - The Jaspers are averaging 81.7 ppg and 9.7 threes per game while shooting 52.1 percent, including 49.2 percent from deep, over the last three games.
# 2 - Manhattan defeated Canisius 63-60 on Jan. 4 in Buffalo and will be looking to sweep the season series between the teams for the second-straight year.
# 3 - The Jaspers are 12-2 in the months of February and March since the start of last season and 18-5 since the 2012-2013 campaign.
QUICK HITS
* Manhattan enters this week's play in a three-way tie for second place with Monmouth and Rider at 8-4 in the league and is just 1.5 games behind Iona (9-2).
* The Jaspers swept the season series from Monmouth by virtue of last Sunday's 87-76 win and will play at Rider on Sunday before squaring off with Iona twice beginning next Friday.
* Manhattan is 12-2 in the months of February and March since the start of last season and is 18-5 over the last two-plus years.
* The Jaspers have claimed each of the last four meetings with Canisius while holding a commanding 52-33 advantage in the all-time series.
* At Draddy Gymnasium, Manhattan has won the last three match-ups between the teams and five-of-seven dating back to the 2007-2008 season.
* Since the teams became MAAC rivals for the 1988-1989 season, the Jaspers hold a 33-18 advantage, including 18-6 when playing at home.
* In the last meeting, Manhattan bested Canisius thanks to junior Shane Richards game-high 18 points and 10 rebounds.
* Richards' first career double-double was highlighted by an impressive aerial performance that saw the long-range maestro go 5-for-9 from distance.
* Richards most recently scored 20 points in the win at Monmouth while pulling down eight rebounds and finishing up 6-for-9 from the floor, including 4-for-6 from deep.
* He also became the first player in school history with 200 three pointers with the third of his four triples.
* Richards continues to rank among the MAAC leaders in scoring (13.0 ppg-13th), three pointers/game (2.8-3rd) (35th NCAA), three-point field goal percentage (.383-9th) and free throw percentage (.787-12th) while notching six 20-point performances.
* For his career, Richards has converted on at least three triples in 42 of his 86 games, and at least four in 21 games. When the New York City native hits at least four, the Jaspers are 16-5, including 12-2 over the last two seasons.
* Also having a big game in the win over Monmouth was senior Emmy Andujar, who scored a season-high 27 points with four rebounds, three assists and three steals while going 8-of-10 from the floor and 11-of-15 from the line.
* For Andujar, it marked the sixth time in the last eight games that the Rice graduate has notched at least 20 markers. During that time, Andujar is averaging 20.1 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 3.4 apg and 2.4 spg while shooting 55.3 percent from the floor and 70.5 percent form the line.
* Andujar, who is the only player in school-history to notch 1,000 points, 600 rebounds, 300 assists and 100 steals, has scored at least 20 points on eight occasions and 10 times in his career. His most recent scoring haul also marked the eighth-straight game that a Manhattan player has notched at least 20 points.
* On the year, Andujar leads the squad and ranks among the MAAC leaders in scoring (16.0-6th), rebounding (6.9-6th), assists (3.2-7th), steals (1.9-2nd) (49th NCAA), field goal percentage (.530-2nd) (49th NCAA), offensive rebounds (2.7-3rd) and defensive rebounds (4.2-10th).
* Andujar also moved into 26th place on the Jaspers' all-time scoring list with 1,141 points and with 29 will match former teammate Michael Alvarado. He is also eighth with 320 assists and 10th with 140 steals while his 664 rebounds are just outside the top-10.
* Manhattan averaged 79.0 ppg while shooting 51.0 percent (50-of-98) from the floor and 45.5 percent (20-of-44) from deep in its season sweep of Monmouth.
* By virtue of last Sunday's performance, the Jaspers are now 9-0 when leading at the half and playing in the state of New Jersey.
* Manhattan also recorded 11 steals while notching double-figures for the second-straight game and the fourth time this season. Over the last two years, the Jaspers are 14-1 when registering at least 10 steals and are 25-4 during the Steve Masiello era, including 17-1 against MAAC opposition.
* Manhattan is also first in the MAAC and fourth nationally with 17.0 forced turnovers per game and have pressured the opposition into at least 20 miscues six times and at least 16 turnovers in 15 of its 21 games.
* The Jaspers also lead the MAAC and rank 76th nationally with a MAAC-best 7.2 steals per game and are second in the league and 58th overall in turnover margin (+1.9).
* Leading the charge against Monmouth was senior RaShawn Stores, who narrowly missed his first career double-double, finishing with nine points and a career-high nine assists.
* Stores leads the MAAC and ranks 25th nationally with a sterling 2.9 assist/turnover ratio and is also among the MAAC leaders in three point percentage (.414-4th) and assists (3.1 apg-8th).
* During league play, Stores paces the MAAC in three-point percentage (.531) and assist/turnover ratio (3.46). In the second half of league games, Stores is shooting a MAAC-leading 53.1 percent from deep. Additionally, after halftime he is shooting a blistering 62.9 percent (12-of-19), including 71.4 percent (5-of-7) in the final five minutes.
* Rounding out the double-figure scorers against Monmouth was junior Ashton Pankey, who scored 11 points. Over his last eight games, he is averaging 15.9 ppg, on 56.3 percent shooting, while hitting for at least 18 points on five occasions.
* The Maryland transfer ranks among the MAAC leaders in scoring (12.2 ppg-17th), rebounding (6.3 rpg-11th), field goal percentage (.522-3rd), blocks (1.3 bpg-4th), offensive rebounds (2.3 orpg-10th) and defensive rebounds (4.0 drpg-14th) while hitting for at least 20 points on two occasions.
* Andujar (8), Richards (6) and Pankey (2) have also combined for the 16 Manhattan 20-point outings, 40 of the Jaspers' 51 double-figure scoring performances while leading the squad in scoring in all but one game this season.
* The trio has scored a season-high 60 points against Rider and in the win at Monmouth.
* Sophomore Rich Williams scored 13 points off the bench in the win over Siena as the Manhattan reserves scored a season-high 30 points. Over his last three games, he is averaging 8.0 ppg, on 52.9 percent (9-of-17) shooting, off the bench, after scoring a combined 10 points over his previous five games.
* During the aforementioned three games, the Jasper bench is averaging 22.3 ppg while shooting 49.0 percent (24-49) from the field, including 42.3 percent (11-26) from long range.
* Manhattan is now a perfect 8-1 when topping the 70-point plateau and 7-5 in games decided by 10 points or less, including 6-1 during conference play.
* The Jaspers are 6-1 at home this season and have won 10-of-11 and 15-of-17 in Riverdale dating back to last season.
* 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 nine occasions. Wilson continues to rank among the MAAC leaders in assists (3.0 apg-9th), steals (1.2 spg-12th) and assist/turnover ratio (1.4-7th).
* 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 154-85 record.
* In his 19th season as either a player or a coach, Masiello has a career collegiate record of 432-195, including 311-174 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.
* With the win over Siena, Masiello became the seventh head coach in school history to notch 70 career victories and is 31-12 when coaching at Draddy.
* Masiello's final collegiate victory as a player for Kentucky came against Jim Baron and St. Bonaventure on March, 16, 2000.
KEY MANHATTAN MATCH-UPS
* Three-Point Defense - Manhattan is allowing opposing three-point shooters to make good on 40.0 percent (16-of-40) over the last three games.
* Pressure - In the teams' first meeting, the Jaspers forced a season-low seven turnovers.
* Late-Game Success - Manhattan is 7-2 over the last nine games thanks to shooting 50.9 percent (27-of-53), including 42.9 percent (6-of-14) from deep, while limiting the opposition to 39.8 percent (22-of-83), including 19.2 percent (5-of-26) from long range.
FINAL FOUR
Four of the Jaspers' final four games will appear on the ESPN family of networks beginning with the Canisius tilt. Manhattan will host Iona (2/13) in a game that will appear on ESPNU with the return game against the Gaels (2/27) appearing on ESPN2 with the regular season finale against Quinnipiac (3/1) to be shown on ESPN3.
TWICE IS NICE
In the wins at Monmouth and against Siena, the Jaspers scored a season-high 87 points.
TOPS THIS YEAR
Manhattan shot a season-high 60.0 percent (9-of-15) from long range against Siena while recording a season-high 13 steals.
TURN THE RECORD OVER, CATCY YA ON THE FLIP SIDE
The Jaspers forced at least 20 turnovers for the sixth time this season against Siena while forcing the Saints into 22 miscues.
HIGH FIVE
In the win over Siena, Manhattan placed five players notch double-figures for the second time this season.
BACK-TO-BACK
The duo of Andujar (22) and Richards (21) each also cracked the 20-point mark in the win at Saint Peter's marking the first time since the 2010-2011 season that the Jaspers had back-to-back games with two 20-point scorers.
TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT
During league play, Manhattan is 6-1 in games decided by 10 points or less.
LUCKY NUMBER SEVEN
Sophomore Jermaine Lawrence started for the first time since the opener at Monmouth while giving the Jaspers their seventh different starting line-up this year. Since his return to the starting line-up, Manhattan is 3-0.
LUCKY NUMBER SEVEN X2
The Jaspers had seven different players hit a three pointer as Manhattan made good on a season-high 11.
MASH UNIT
Senior Donovan Kates became the sixth different Jasper to miss a game this season against Morgan State. Kates (1), Stores (2), Lawrence (4), classmate Carlton Allen (10), freshman Samson Usilo (21) and classmate Zane Waterman (5) have combined to miss 43 games this season.
THE BEST AROUND
Andujar notched 25 points at Quinnipiac to go along with 12 rebounds. Andujar's haul secured his third-straight 20-plus point performance and his fourth in the previous five games.
DOUBLE-DOWN
It was also Andujar's third double-double of the year and the fifth by a Manhattan player this year
DID YOU KNOW
All five double-figure performances by a Jasper on the glass has coincided with a double-double.
CAPTAIN CLUTCH
Three of Richards' five three pointers in Buffalo came after Canisius took the lead. All told, the Golden Griffins held the lead on four different occasions only to see Manhattan reclaim the lead on the subsequent possession each time.
DON'T GET DEFENSIVE
The Jaspers limited a Canisius team that entered the game making good on an average of more than seven three pointers per game into just 3-of-21 shooting (.143) from long range.
SOMETHING ABOUT WESTERN NEW YORK
Stores had a solid game against Canisius, finishing with nine points, four assists, against no turnovers.
SECOND-HALF IMPROVEMENT
Andujar (9.0 ppg - 6.5 ppg) and Pankey (7.8 ppg - 4.3 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.
EARLY START
The game, which was televised nationally via ESPN2, started at 11 a.m., as part of the network's Tip-Off Marathon matched the earliest Manhattan start time since the Jaspers bested Maryland 87-84 on March 18, 2006 in the First Round of the NIT.
DOUBLE DOWN
Andujar led the way for the Jaspers against UMass with 21 points, 10 rebounds and five assists - all of which paced the team.
POWERS HONORED
Former Manhattan student-athlete, coach and administrator Jack Powers was honored with an ECAC Lifetime Award at halftime of the St. John's-Fordham game following the Rutgers tilt.
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 1319-1166 overall record and 266-279 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.
• 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 is at Rider on Sunday, Feb. 8 with tip time slated for 2 p.m.
