Emmy Andujar. Photo by: Stacy Podelski/1495 Sports
The Manhattan College Men’s Basketball team (13-12; 10-6 MAAC) will be on an important three-game road trip starting on Saturday, February 21 taking on Siena College (10-16; 7-10 MAAC) at 7:00 p.m.
Looking to get a good seed in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament, every game has meaning for the Jaspers. Manhattan currently sits in fourth place in the MAAC, and also looks to snap a 13-game road/neutral losing streak to Siena.
The teams most recently met on Jan. 30 with the Jaspers posting an 87-79 win over the Saints, with the last victory for the Jaspers coming on Jan 30, 2006 via a 65-58 decision at the Times Union Center.
This will be a great opportunity for Manhattan to get a game in prior to the MAAC Conference Championship, which will be held on March 5-9 in the home of the Saints (Times Union Center).
Senior Emmy Andujar scored 20 points to pace five double-figures scorers in the first meeting against Siena, marking the second time this season Manhattan placed five in double-figures. With three rebounds, Andujar will become the first player in school history with 1,200 points, 700 rebounds, 300 assists and 150 steals.
Here are some notes for the Manhattan v Siena game:
* Emmy Andujar (22) and junior Shane Richards (20) each scored at least 20 points in the same game for the fourth time this season in Manhattan’s 79-70 win over Fairfield in the Jaspers’ most recent game.
* Manhattan recorded at least 10 steals for the fourth time in six games and the sixth time, finishing with a season-best 15, which represents the most by the Jaspers since pressuring Buffalo into 16 in an overtime victory a year ago.
* With their most recent win, Manhattan 8-3 in MAAC games decided by 10 points or less thanks to shooting 72.1 percent from the line over the final five minutes. Over his first three seasons, Steve Masiello and the Jaspers were just 14-19 in MAAC games decided by 10 points or less.
*Junior Ashton Pankey was one of three players in double-figure scoring in the last game against Fairfield, as the forward recorded 17 points and a game-high six rebounds. Panicky averaged 20.0 ppt this season against the Stags.
* Pankey ranks among the MAAC leaders in scoring (12.9 ppg-15th), rebounding (6.4 rpg-7th), field goal percentage (.542-2nd) and blocks (1.4 bpg-4th) while hitting for at least 20 points on two occasions – including a career-high 23 in the first meeting with Fairfield.
* Sophomore Tyler Wilson had six assists, against no turnovers, with four steals against Fairfield on the heels of handing out seven assists, against just one turnover, against Iona. Over his last two games, Wilson is averaging 6.5 assists per game and has handed out at least four in each of his last three games and 12 times this year.
* In his 19th season as either a player or a coach, Masiello has a career collegiate record of 434-198, including 313-170 on the sidelines, with one National Title, two National Championship appearances, two Final Four appearances, six Elite Eight berths, seven conference championships, 12 NCAA Tournament appearances and 15 20-win seasons.
KEYS TO THE GAME
* Efficiency – In the first meeting, Manhattan scored a season-high 87 points while shooting 54.3 percent (25-for- 46) from the floor, including a season-high 60.0 percent (9-of-15) from distance.
* Defense – Siena boasts the MAAC’s worst scoring defense and therefore compensates by ranking second in the MAAC in scoring (70.3 ppg).
* Depth – In the teams’ first match-up, the Jaspers got a season-high 30 points from its bench and will need another big game from its reserves against a team that has just nine active scholarship players.
SURGING
Manhattan is 5-2 over its last seven games thanks to averaging 78.0 ppg while shooting 46.2 percent from the field.
UP NEXT
Manhattan continues its three-game road trip at Marist on Monday, Feb. 23 at 7 p.m.
For more information on the Manhattan College Men’s Basketball team fans are encouraged to click on the link seen here:
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