RIVERDALE, N.Y. - The Manhattan men's basketball team will travel to Stony Brook (8-12, 3-5 America East) on Saturday, February 19 for its 2011 ESPN BracketBuster contest. Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m. at Pritchard Gymnasium.
Manhattan (4-18, 2-9 MAAC) will meet the Seawolves for the first time in the program's 105-year history, and it will mark the Jaspers' second contest with an America East opponent this season after facing Binghamton on December 10 at Draddy Gymnasium.
Stony Brook was selected to finish second in the America East, according to the Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Seawolves are led by sixth-year head coach Steve Pikiell who guided his 2009-2010 team to a program Division I record 22 wins, including 13 in the conference to earn Stony Brook's first-ever America East regular-season title. The Seawolves are led in scoring by junior guard Bryan Dougher who is averaging 13.2 points, to go along with a team-high 2.3 assists per game.
The ESPNU BracketBuster concept, named because of the success of teams from the participating conferences in the NCAA Tournament over the past years, provides participating programs with an opportunity to play top non-conference opponents approximately three weeks prior to Selection Sunday. All 10 members of the MAAC participate in the event and each pairing was determined by ESPN in conjunction with the conferences. As part of the agreement, Stony Brook will "return" a game to be played at Draddy Gymnasium.
Manhattan has won its BracketBuster contests the last two seasons with both victories coming against a Colonial Athletic Association member. Last season, Manhattan defeated Towson 78-64 in Riverdale, N.Y. The Jaspers are 3-4 in ESPNU BracketBuster contests and 10-6 all-time versus the America East.
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