Shaquil Bender makes a shot against Iona.
VINCENT DUSOVIC / COURTESY
By Barbara Vasquez, Asst. Production Editor & Catherine Diakou, Staff Writer
The Manhattan College Jaspers faced off against the Iona Gaels on March 7 in a riveting showdown, ending with a win for the men’s basketball team.
Iona was able to gain a small 4-point lead over the Jaspers for a part of the first half of the game but lost it quickly and couldn’t get it back. The Jaspers showed out and racked up points for the rest of the game, holding their lead over the Gaels and ending with a score of 77-60.
The Jaspers and Gaels have a long-standing rivalry spanning nearly a century, so this win was especially meaningful to the team and students at Manhattan College, both past and present.
Head coach of the men’s basketball team John Gallagher spoke on his feelings going up against Iona.
“It means something,” Gallagher said. “It means something to the fans. It means something to the alum. If you sit up there and you’re coaching and say it’s just another game– you don’t fare well in those cases. It means more.”
One player in particular, Jaden Winston, stood out throughout the game. Winston played all 40 minutes and ended with an impressive 13 assists and 11 points. He was involved in passes throughout the length of the game and was unarguably an integral part of the team’s victory.
“I know my team, and what [Winston] has done is just fascinating, to tell the truth,” Gallagher said. “He controls the game.”
When asked about how important teamwork and team chemistry were in obtaining the win for the Jaspers, and continuing to play well throughout the season, Winston spoke highly of his teammates.
“I’m in the gym with these guys every day, I see the work that we’re putting in together,” Winston said. “I have ultimate trust in my guys, day in and day out. Today, we proved we can do it, and we want to keep doing it.”
After such a big win following a tough season, the team plans to use this victory as a starting point to continue playing successfully.
“We have got to continue with it, we have to keep continuing this momentum, continue to play well, continue to play with each other,” Gallagher said. “Today is the difference.”
Shaquil Bender, another impressive leader during the game who accumulated 20 points and eight rebounds, added to Gallagher’s point emphasizing togetherness as a key to success.
“We play a lot better when we play together,” Bender said.
During the second half of the game, the Jaspers gained a lead over the Gaels but continued to play as skillfully and strongly. When asked how the team was able to stay focused and avoid getting comfortable with the lead, Gallagher responded simply.
“We haven’t been here yet so we can’t get comfortable,” Gallagher said.
Gallagher, who has coached for years, shared that there is more to the game than the players performing well– it’s learning a language.
“We speak our own language,” Gallagher said. “I call things out, and the other coach is like, ‘It’s a play.’ It’s what I want them to see. It’s learning a language, which they’ve done, and it shows.”
Gallagher went on to explain what about this game was different, leading to a victory among the multitude of losses the team has dealt with during this past season.
“Tonight we made shots, we were in rhythm, we had great balance, we were hard to guard– that’s what we look for,” Gallagher said. “We’re going to have growing pains. When you’re building a program, that happens. But we’re a good ball club and we’re fortunate to win. We shot the ball well tonight.”