RIVERDALE, N.Y. – The Steve Masiello coaching era at Manhattan officially began on Saturday with the Jaspers exciting come from behind 62-48 victory over NJIT (0-1) in Riverdale. Jaspers’ junior guard George Beamon (Roslyn, N.Y./Roslyn) filled the stat sheet with his eighth career double-double (15 points, 10 rebounds), while freshman Donovan Kates (Hopkinsville, Ky./Christian County High School) helped power a second half scoring surge and finished with 10 points in his collegiate debut.
“Getting my first NCAA Division I victory is an awesome feeling, it’s a dream come true. But its not about me, it’s about the players,” said Masiello. “They are the ones who got it done. These guys put the work in and have totally changed everything about themselves and about this team. They deserve all the credit. I am really privileged to have them.”
Manhattan (1-0) overcame a seven point second half deficit and stole all the momentum to close out the contest with a 23-5 run over the final 7:39. Kates hot shooting sparked the Jaspers comeback bid. The 6’6” guard from Hopkinsville, Ky. poured in eight of the Jaspers’ 10 unanswered points in a game shifting rush. Kates buried two big 3-pointers, which bookended Michael Alvarado’s (Bronx, N.Y./All Hallows) go ahead layup at 6:52 (44-43). He then topped the run off with a pair of free-throws as it all happened within a three minute span.
“My teammates were able to find me for open shots, so I have to give the credit to them,” explained Kates. “I thank my teammates and Coach Masiello for having faith in me to keep shooting the ball. I finally broke the seal on the rim”
Senior forward Roberto Colonette (Queens, N.Y./Robert F. Kennedy/ASA Institute) also made a lasting impression in his Manhattan debut, after missing the entire 2010-11 campaign due to injury. Colonette anchored the Jaspers’ bench production with 11 points and eight rebounds over 15 minutes of action. Manhattan freshman forward Emmy Andujar (Bronx, N.Y./Rice High School) contributed seven points and five rebounds, while Alvarado added six points to the Jaspers’ scoring column.
The Jaspers built as much as a nine point advantage in the first half, but it was quickly erased by three consecutive 3-pointers by NJIT senior guard Arjun Ohri within a two minute stretch. Manhattan battled to salvage a 28-27 edge at intermission. Beamon had nine of his 15 points at the break.
Highlanders’ senior guard Isaiah Wilkerson caught fire in the second half scoring 16 of his game-high 23 points to help propel NJIT to a 39-32 lead by the 11:16 mark. Wilkerson accounted for eight points in the Highlanders’ 12-2 surge.
Manhattan took advantage back-to-back trips to the free-throw line to work its way within striking distance of regaining the lead. Four straight free-throws by Andujar and Colonette made it a one possession ball game (41-39) and set the stage for Kates shooting spree. The Jaspers’ capitalized at the line converting 24-of-31 free-throw attempts (77.4%) in the ballgame to NJIT’s 57.1% (8-14) mark at the stripe.
“This was just hard work paying off,” said Beamon “It is a good feeling, but now we have to look forward. We can’t look past any opponent.”
The victory marks the Jaspers’ fifth straight season opening win over NJIT and Manhattan is now 74-32 (.698) all-time in openers.
Manhattan has a quick turn around as the Jaspers travel to Syracuse to face the Orange on Monday in the 2011 Dick’s Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip Off. The contest is slated for 7 p.m. and will be televised live on ESPNU.
Leave a Reply