East Rutherford, NJ (April 21, 2004)- Senior
Luis Flores was named the Haggerty Award winner, awarded to the best player in the New York, fifth year head coach Bobby Gonzalez was named Metropolitan Coach of the Year, senior
Dave Holmes joined Flores on the All-Met Division I First Team, while junior
Peter Mulligan was named to the All-Met Division I Third Team, it was announced tonight at the 71st Annual NIT/Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association Awards Dinner, held at the Meadowlands Race Track.
Flores, who averaged 24.0 points per game this season, concluded his Manhattan career as the school's all-time leading scorer and first men's basketball player to score 2000 career points, tallying 2046 points in just three years in Riverdale. He was named MAAC Player of the Year, First Team All-MAAC, MAAC Tournament MVP, NABC District 2 First Team, Associated Press Honorable Mention All-American, and the USBWA District 2 Player of the Year. Flores became the first player to receive consecutive Haggerty Awards since Malik Sealy of St. John's won the award in 1991 and 1992.
Gonzalez was named NABC District 2 and USBWA District 2 Coach of the Year, became the all-time leader in wins at Draddy Gymnasium, moved into 6th place on the MAAC all-time winning percentage list for conference games, and became just the second Manhattan coach to have three straight 20 win seasons. He also led the Jaspers to their second straight NCAA appearance and third straight postseason appearance (2001-02 NIT). This is the first time since records were kept starting in 1981 that a coach has received Coach of the Year honors in consecutive years.
Holmes eclipsed the 1000 career point mark this season. He ended his career with 1291 points, which ties him for 11th on the Manhattan men's list. Holmes led the team in rebounds with 8.4 per game, and was second on the team with a 13.1 points per game scoring average. He was a Second-Team All-MAAC pick, was named to the MAAC All-Tournament team, and was also named to the NABC District 2 Second-Team.
Mulligan averaged 10.9 points per game in his first season as a Jaspers after transferring from UMBC. He finished the year in strong fashion, scoring in double digits in 10 of the Jaspers' last 12 games.
Manhattan ended its season with a 25-6 record after advancing to the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament following a 75-60 win over fifth-seeded Florida. The Jaspers gained an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament after winning their second straight MAAC Tournament Championship. Manhattan also won its second straight MAAC Regular Season Championship after posting a 16-2 conference slate. The 16 wins were the most since the MAAC expanded to an 18 game regular season.
