Jaspers Edged by Bobcats

Jaspers Edged by Bobcats

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, JANUARY 27- Quinnipiac (12-7, 7-3), which joined the MAAC this season, defeated Manhattan (14-5, 7-3) for the second time in January on Sunday at Draddy Gymnasium in Riverdale. These meetings were the only two men’s basketball games the two teams have ever faced one another.

The Jaspers led the visiting Bobcats, except for three ties, until 7:45 of the opening half when Zaid Hearst hit a layup to give the Bobcats a 17-15 lead. The visitors then kept the lead for the rest of the half except for two ties. 

The Bobcats continued their advantage in the second half until 14:15 when a dunk by the Bronx’s Emmy Andujar put Manhattan ahead, 42-41. 

The lead changed hands several times in the next two minutes until a run by Quinnipiac raised the lead of the visitors to double figures, 70-60, at 5;33. 

Thirteen unanswered points by the Jaspers followed to give Manhattan a 73-70 lead with 2:43 remaining in regulation time. The second half ended with the score knotted for the seventh time at 77.

The Bobcats dominated the five minute overtime. The first lead of the visitors was augmented by nine successful free throws by Quinnipiac. 

Steve Masiello, Manhattan coach, gave credit to the visitors for their victory over Manhattan, “It was a tough conference game. [Quinnipiac] is a very good team. They took it to us the whole night.”

One Bronx native, Marquis Barnett, a junior at Quinnipiac, who played nine minutes, was happy about the result.

Three Bobcats scored more than 20 points. Umar Shannon and Zaid Hearst scored 25. Hearst also grabbed 10 boards. Another double-double was achieved by Ike Azlan who scored 21 and hauled down 13 rebounds.

Rhamel Brown, who led Manhattan scoring with 15 points, became the third member of the team to reach 1,000 points with the Jaspers. Brown’s five blocked shots kept him in second place in the nation in blocks.

Michael Alvarado’s 15 points hiked his career total to 1,056. His seven assists gave him 315 as a Jasper, seventh in team history. George Beamon had his fourth double-double of the season, 12 points and 12 rebounds. His 1,592 points is seventh in Manhattan history.

The Jaspers travel to New Rochelle on January 31 for a game with conference rival Iona. They return to Draddy on February 3 to host Saint Peter’s.