Championship Highlights | Postgame Interviews (News 12) | Press Conference
ESPN Highlights | Postgame ESPN Interview
RIVERDALE, N.Y. - Manhattan won its fifth Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Championship by a 79-69 score over rival Iona at the Times Union Center. Here are some post-tournament notes:
* Manhattan won back-to-back championships for the first time since claiming titles in 2003 and 2004.
* The Jaspers have now won seven-straight MAAC Tournament games, establishing a school-record in the process.
* In its run to the MAAC Tournament, Manhattan outscored the opposition by an average of 14.3 ppg while posting a +6.3 rebounding margin. Opposing shooters were also held to just 38.0 percent (60-for-158) shooting, including 22.0 percent (11-for-50) from distance.
* Despite not earning All-Tournament honors, senior
RaShawn Stores led the charge, averaging 7.3 ppg, 3.3 apg and 2.0 spg while posting a ridiculous 10.0 assist/turnover ratio.
* Since Stores returned to the starting line-up, after being hampered injury, Manhattan is 17-7 while averaging 7.2 ppg, 3.4 apg and 1.4 spg while posting a 2.9 assist/turnover ratio.
* Head Coach
Steve Masiello claimed his eighth MAAC Tournament victory, breaking Fran Fraschilla's previous school record.
* The Jaspers repeated despite graduating 50 percent of the scoring and 38 percent of the rebounding from last year's championship squad while not playing at home until December and in 11 different venues over the first 13 games.
* Masiello has now been a part of each of the last four Manhattan MAAC Championship teams, including the 2004 team as an assistant along with Seton Hall, are the last Metro New York City team to win a non play-in NCAA Tournament Game.
* The Jaspers have won seven of their last eight thanks to averaging 73.5 ppg while limiting the opposition to just 39.6 percent shooting, including 27.5 percent from distance.
* Additionally, during that time Manhattan is shooting a blistering 65.8 percent (25-for-38) from the field over the final five minutes while holding opponents to 36.4 percent (24-for-66), including 20.7 percent (6-for-29).
* The Jaspers have won 11-of-14, losing the three games by a combined 15 points.
* Additionally, since starting the year 4-8 while having five players miss time due to injury, Manhattan is an impressive 15-5
* The Jaspers held Iona to just 22.7 percent (5-for-22) shooting from distance in the championship after the Gaels connected on 47.5 percent (19-for-40) from long range over the first two match-ups.
* Manhattan actually made more three pointers than Iona (9-5) while holding the Gaels, which connected on 19 in their semifinal win over Monmouth, to a season-low five.
* The Jaspers are now 28-9 in the months of February and March over the last three years, including 20-5 over the last two seasons.
* Manhattan has now won four-straight neutral site games and are 5-2 this season and 9-3 since the start of last year.
* The Jaspers avenged two prior losses to Iona while improving to a perfect 15-0 when leading at the half.
* Junior
Ashton Pankey scored 21 points with 10 rebounds against Iona en route to notching his third double-double of the year.
* Pankey was named MAAC Tournament Most Outstanding Player after averaging 15.7 ppg and 8.0 rpg while shooting 51.7 percent from the floor and 77.3 percent from the line.
* He has now hit for double-figures in scoring a team-best 25 times, including 16-straight.
* Senior
Emmy Andujar also recorded a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds and averaged a team-best 16.7 ppg, 8.7 rpg and 4.3 apg while earning his second straight All-Tournament team nod.
* Junior
Shane Richards rounded out the All-Tournament members for the Jaspers, notching 14.3 ppg while shooting 42.9 percent from distance and 93.3 percent from the line.
* Senior
Donovan Kates scored a season-high 13 points while going 4-of-6 from distance … Over his previous 20 games he had made good on just 4-of-31.
