RIVERDALE, N.Y. – The Manhattan men’s basketball team did not disappoint the Jasper faithful in its home opener on Wednesday earning a 67-56 victory over Hofstra (3-3). Senior guard George Beamon (Roslyn, N.Y./Roslyn) made a splash in his season debut scoring a game-high 29 points, despite coming off an injury that sidelined him for the first two contests. Manhattan junior forward Rhamel Brown (Brooklyn, N.Y./Transit Tech) shot a perfect 7-for-7 from the field for 15 points, while junior point guard Michael Alvarado (Bronx, N.Y./All Hallows) added 12 points to snap the Pride’s three-game win streak.
Manhattan (1-2) scored the first eight points of the contest and led by as many as 13 in the first half, but 11 unanswered points by Hofstra midway through the stanza propelled the Pride into halftime trailing 29-28. Hofstra sophomore guard Taran Buie scored 14 of his team-high 22 points in the first half.
Hofstra eventually tied the game in the second half before Beamon and Alvarado went on scoring sprees to reopen a double-digit lead. After David Imes dunk at 16:16 made it a 33-33 ballgame, Beamon answered with a four-point play on the ensuing trip down court. That triggered an 11-1 run over the next four minutes with Beamon scoring every point of the surge.
The Pride knocked it back to a three point game with 8:46 on the clock on Jorden Allen’s free-throw. Alvarado was next to step up as he delivered three consecutive three-pointers to open a 58-47 lead. Sophomore forward Ryan McCoy (Skillman, N.Y./Montgomery) then connected on the Jaspers’ fourth straight three-pointer at the five minute mark to give Manhattan a double-digit advantage it would not relinquish.
Brown led the Jaspers on the glass with eight rebounds. The reigning MAAC Defensive Player of the Year also blocked four shots and swiped two steals in 23 minutes of work. Beamon grabbed seven rebounds and McCoy pulled down six to help give Manhattan a 40-34 edge on the glass.
The Jaspers found their shooting rhythm for the first time this season by going 45.5% (25-55) from the field. Manhattan knocked down 12-for-24 (50.0%) shots in the second half, including five three-pointers.
Beamon helped anchor the solid shooting effort going 10-for-15 from the field and 7-for-10 at the free-throw line in his 19th career 20+ point performance. It was the 49th straight game the Roslyn, N.Y. native posted double-figures.
Manhattan also received good production in the backcourt from sophomore guard RaShawn Stores (Bronx, N.Y./All Hallows/Robinson School). Stores dished out five of Manhattan’s 17 assists in his third straight start.
The Jaspers have a quick turnaround as they return to action on Saturday. Manhattan will be tested again with its third straight road contest against a 2012 postseason participant in Atlantic 10 member Dayton. Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m. and the game is available to watch on the internet via Dayton’s free live video stream.
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