Michael Alvarado. Photo by: Stacy Podelski/ 1495 Sports
Draddy Gymansium was rocking as the Manhattan College Basketball team (12-3, 5-1 MAAC) were able to defeat the Marist College (5-11, 2-4 MAAC) in a 86-79 overtime thriller on Sunday afternoon.
In a game of momentum swings and clutch shooting it was the play of Senior Guard Michael Alvarado (Bronx, NY) who made moves that were ESPN Top 10 Plays worthy.
Alvarado led all Jaspers’ scoring with a career-high 33 points off 13-17 shooting from the field. Michael was able to find the openings on what was a very tough Marist defense. Probably the most interesting line for the Senior was the fact that he did not turnover the basketball for the entire game, which was impressive considering the defensive pressure shown by the Red Foxes throughout the game.
Alvarado was not the lone Jasper to lead the team as Rich Williams (Brooklyn, NY) and Shane Richards (New York, NY) both hit clutch shots that helped Manhattan earn the victory. Williams finished the game with 13 points, including a clutch three-point shot and a dunk, while Richards continued his fine shooting from downtown to finish the game with 11 points.
In a game that saw six lead changes and two ties, it was a very intense battle between the two Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference foes.
This was just the type of game Manhattan needed as they suffered their first conference loss to Quinnipiac on Thursday, the team was also without Senior Guard/Forward George Beamon (Bronx, NY). The team just keep fighting throughout the night.
Manhattan will look to build off the momentum of today, when they host Siena on Thursday in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play. Tip-off time is set for 7:00 p.m.
Notes
Manhattan has won nine of its last ten games … the Jaspers have won three in a row at Draddy Gymnasium and seven of their last eight MAAC games at home … Manhattan shot 58.5% from the field and 70% (7 of 10) from three-point range … the Jaspers made all four of their shots from the floor in overtime … Manhattan’s bench outscored Marist’s bench 26-8 … the Jaspers defeated the Red Foxes 70-59 in the conference opener for both teams in December … Manhattan has won 10 of the last 13 meetings between the two schools … Michael Alvarado now has 986 points in his career … the game was Manhattan’s third overtime game this season … the Jaspers are 3-0 in overtime games.
The annual alumni game took place at 11 a.m. on Sunday as more than 40 men’s basketball alumni came back to Riverdale … Junius Kellogg ’53 was honored at halftime of the game, as Manhattan College officially dedicated a plaque in his honor that will remain in Draddy Gymnasium.
Fans can check out our photo gallery here:
http://1495sports.com/2014/01/13/photo-gallery-manhattan-mbb-v-marist/
Videos can be seen here:
http://1495sports.com/2014/01/13/videos-manhattan-mbb-v-marist-11214/