Manhattan College BB: Jaspers Drop Fourth of Their Last Five

The NCAA's leading scorer, Charron Fisher, scored 32 points and pulled down eight rebounds as Niagara University defeated Manhattan College 80-63. Both teams looked sloppy throughout the first two minutes of the game, as Devon Austin scored the first bucket to give the Jaspers a 2-0 lead near the 18 minute mark. That was Manhattan's only lead of the game. Charron Fisher quickly responded with a three-point field goal to spark a 21-1 run for the Purple Eagles. Manhattan's young team, which consists of only one senior who does not even play, began chucking up quick shots. This allowed Niagara to go up by as much as 21 points. The Jaspers found themselves trailing by eighteen points at halftime.

Nick Walsh, a walk-on freshman, checked into the game for the first time to start the second half. Walsh, who is a deadly three-point shooter when left open, hit 3 three pointers, and ignited the Jaspers to a run that would leave them down nine points. That was as close as Manhattan would come, as they fell 80-63 to Niagara.

Walsh and Antoine Pearson each finished with eleven points to lead the Jaspers, and Laurence Jolicouer had 10. Manhattan's lack of size is evidently hurting them, especially because their big men get into foul trouble very easily. There has been a time in both of the last two games where Devon Austin, a 6-6 small forward, has been forced into the center position. Head coach Barry Rohrssen is trying to bring in size with 6-9 center, Bernard Webb.

Manhattan continues their streak of tough conference games as they head to Albany to take on Siena this Thursday, followed by a home game against Jason Thompson and the Rider University Broncs. Now at 8-8 (2-4 MAAC), the Jaspers are desperate for wins because in a competitive conference like the MAAC, teams can't afford to fall towards the bottom too early in the season.

The good news for the Jaspers is that Laurence Jolicouer, a redshirt-freshman, has come up big in two of the last three games. He totaled 17 points at Marist, and 10 today. More good news, Manhattan has now played both of their games against top-ranked Niagara, and have lost to Loyola-MD and Marist each once. The Jaspers were able to pick up wins against Canisius and St. Peters. Manhattan was not expected to be a top team in this conference this season, so their losses to three of the top five teams should not be considered such a big deal. At least they are able to handle the lower half of the MAAC.