BUFFALO, NY – The Manhattan Jaspers Men's Basketball team (12-16, 8-9 MAAC) narrowly escaped the Golden Griffins of Canisius University (8-19, 3-13 MAAC) by a score of 69-65 inside the Koessler Athletic Center on Sunday afternoon.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Jaspers were just 40 minutes away from securing their third consecutive victory for the second time this season against the Golden Griffins in the final leg of their Western New York trip.
- Both teams opened the contest by each trading baskets, before Marko Ljubicic put Manhattan ahead by one with a booming three-pointer to continue right where he left off after a fantastic shooting performance in Lewiston nearly 48 hours ago at Niagara.
- Midway through the first half, the Jaspers put together ten straight points, highlighted by Quron Elliott and Terrance Jones posting a pair of threes in traffic at the top of the key and along the wing, respectively.
- The Griffins continued to fight back with a block off Elliott's layup attempt, but Jaden Winston was able to find his way into the low post for another floating two to re-extend the lead back to seven.
- Off a turnover by Canisius, Devin Dinkins found the scoreboard with a corner three-pointer after Jones was unsuccessful on the sequence's first attempt.
- Manhattan went on another run. This time, 12-0 to put the lead at as much as 17 over Canisius on the road, before the Griffins brought the Jaspers lead to just 10 at the end of the half.
- Out of the locker room with a vengeance was Fraser Roxburgh, who opened the second stanza with a booming three, before Jaden Winston did the same to bring the Jasper lead back to 16 with a quick six straight points.
- Through the next dozen minutes, the Golden Griffins found their footing and posted a 27-5 run to re-take the lead to as much as six.
- The Jaspers found a way to make their comeback with Winston's three-pointer to bring the Griffin's lead to just one.
- Despite the technical foul on the Manhattan bench, the Jaspers worked through the successful free throws and proved their resiliency with Dinkins, Roxburgh, and Jones adding six of the team's 10 unanswered points to put the Jaspers ahead one final time.
- Off a Canisius block of Jones' layup down low with 24 seconds remaining, it was Anthony Isaac, who came up as the team's closer to net the dagger via a tip-in.
STATS AND NOTES
- Junior guard Jaden Winston paced the Jaspers with 18 points on the afternoon, having converted six of 11 from the floor, which included two three-pointers on four attempts. Winston also netted four free throws in eight tries, while grabbing three rebounds, assisting on three, and stealing a game-high three in 35 minutes on the floor.
- Redshirt junior guard Devin Dinkins added 14 points to the scoresheet on four-of-nine shooting, while converting five-of-seven from the free-throw line. Dinkins assisted on two baskets while stealing one in 37 minutes on the floor.
- Graduate guard Terrance Jones continued his fantastic weekend with another 12 points on four made field goals. Jones converted another three free throws in as many attempts, while grabbing five rebounds, adding two assists, and stealing one down the stretch in the second half, in 37 minutes on the floor.
- The Jaspers led the game with seven steals, compared to Canisius's two. The Green and White also outrebounded the Golden Griffins 35-31.
- Manhattan won the battle of points off turnovers 18-9, added 18 second-chance points on 10 offensive rebounds, and added 11 bench points to the scoreboard.
QUOTES FROM THE JASPERS
Head Coach John Gallagher on the Griffins: "I have such respect for Jimmy (Christian), and the job he's done. He's been in so many close games. Look, a month ago, six games ago, we lose this game. I love the resilience of this group. I kept saying in the huddles, we're coming. We just missed six layups at the rim, but we're going to start making them."
Gallagher on adjustments made after loss to Canisius on January 9: "Well, points per possession, this was one of our best defensive games. I know we were below a point today; that's a huge point. The difference is that when we're getting deflections, it helps our offense. We're just so lucky to get out of Buffalo with a win and a weekend sweep."
Gallagher on the road ahead: "We haven't played great till the last few games. I feel like things are coming together. The momentum is huge. We just won our third game in a row. If we had lost today? We lose all that momentum we've built to this point. Look, I know how big today was, and then we're staring at a five-point deficit. You have to keep on playing. I'm proud of the guys who just kept on playing. It's such a huge win for us."
NEXT UP
The Green and White begin the final stretch of its regular season as they return to Riverdale for its penultimate home game of the campaign, as the Jaspers host the Red Foxes of Marist University on Friday, February 20, for a 7 p.m. opening tip inside Draddy Gymnasium. The contest can be viewed on ESPN+ with a paid subscription.
