Jan. 14, 2012
Final Stats
The numbers game finally caught up to Siena Saturday night. Manhattan broke free from a one-point halftime lead and coasted to a 72-53 home win over the Saints. The loss snapped Siena's three-game win streak.
"I was concerned going into the game, I knew they were going to press us," Siena head coach Mitch Buonaguro said after the game. "I think with this kind of game, you can't turn the ball over."
The Saints did. A season-high 22 times.
George Beamon led the charge for the Jaspers, scoring a game-high 24 points. Manhattan shook off a sluggish start to shoot 50% from the field in the second half, including 46% (6-13) from 3-point range.
Siena tied the game at 30-30 on Brandon Walters' layup less than two minutes into the second half, but the Jaspers scored the next eight points and never trailed again. After the Saints cut the lead to five, Manhattan scored eight straight to push it to 13. When Siena closed within eight, the Jaspers responded with 10 of the next 12, and the rout was on.
OD Anosike extended his nation-leading, school-record double-double streak to 13 games in the loss. He scored 16 points and added 16 rebounds. Anosike made 7-11 field goals, but his teammates shot just 12-46 (26%).
The Saints led 16-9 nearly 13 minutes into the game, controlling tempo and stifling the Jaspers with their trademark zone. They took a 27-25 lead with 40 seconds left in the half on a long three by Evan Hymes, but Manhattan took momentum to the lockerroom, freeing Beamon for a corner three with eight seconds on the clock.
Siena's starting backcourt of Hymes and Kyle Downey combined to shoot 3-23 from the field. Reserve guard Rob Poole didn't fare much better, making 2-8 shots. The Saints went 0-8 from distance after intermission.
Manhattan got 14 points off the bench from Khadini Brutus. He made 4-8 3-pointers. The much-improved Jaspers move to 12-7 on the season, and sit alone in third place in the MAAC at 5-2. It's especially impressive considering 60 of their 72 points Saturday came from players who were on their six-win, last place team a year ago.
The road doesn't get any easier for the Saints. They travel to play Loyola Thursday and host Iona a week from Monday. The Greyhounds and Gaels are tied atop the MAAC standings at 5-1. The good news is there is time to rest and prepare. The bad news? In March, there won't be.
