Manhattan’s Will Sydnor taking a shot in the paint during Manhattan’s win over Mercy University.
ISAIAH ROSARIO / THE QUADRANGLE
By Isaiah Rosario, Staff Writer
Manhattan University’s men’s basketball (1-1, 0-0 MAAC) returned to Draddy Gymnasium with a win for their home opener last Tuesday to face off against Mercy University (0-3, 0-0 ECC) defeating the Mavericks 88-71.
This is the first game for the Jaspers since returning from College Park, Maryland following the 49-79 loss to the Maryland Terps.
The Jaspers struggled at home last year, with a record of 3-10. Their record away from Draddy was no better, sitting at 4-12.
The Jaspers’ starting five included Jaden Winston, Shaquil Bender, Will Sydnor, Wesley Robinson and Masiah Gilyard. The starting lineup included three returning players and two newcomers.
Mercy opened up the scoring with a corner three by guard Taj Chiles. The Jaspers’ first points of the game came off a free throw by Robinson.
To open the game it was clear that the Jaspers were the more physically dominant team but relied heavily on the outside shots rather than taking down low. Defensively, the Jaspers seemed heavily susceptible on the inside.
At the second media timeout in the first half, it got a little sloppy for the Jaspers as the Mavericks were able to force the Jaspers into eight turnovers resulting in an eight point lead for the Mavericks.
After the seven-minute mark, the Jasper offense found its rhythm, closing the half on a 23-5 run. Sydnor scored nine points during the run, while Bender added seven. MU led 40-34 at halftime.
The second half opened up the same way the first half ended. The Jasper offense continued to run and gun on the Mercy defense. While the scoring was slow to start the half, viewers of the game could see that the momentum shifted in favor of the Jaspers as the lead grew to 12 points as the Jaspers opened up the half on a 12-4 run.
“I think we just got the jitters out of us,” Bender said, speaking about the difference between the first and second half. “First home game for some new guys. We hadn’t played it for eight days so I feel like once we got settled in, it was like we knew they weren’t winning, or they couldn’t stop us.”
It may not be a full preview of the season just yet, but the Jaspers utilized an eight-man rotation with the starting five including Devin Dinkins, Fraser Roxburgh and Alijah Curry. At the second media timeout of the first half, Dinkins provided nine points and three boards. As a transfer from George Mason University, Dinkins will be pivotal for Jaspers’ success for the rest of the season as he can provide consistent scoring for Gallagher’s bench.
Besides the early run for the Jaspers that extended their lead, baskets were traded for the rest of the second half as the lead stayed within high single digits to around 15 points. Draddy was electric for the home opener but it got especially loud as Bender made a layup through contact for an and-one to extend the lead to fifteen points.
With just over a minute left, Gallagher cleared his bench, signifying the Jaspers’ win. The final score of the game was 88-71. Players of the match were, no question, Sydnor and Bender. Sydnor had a double-double in his second career collegiate game and Bender had 28 points to lead the Jaspers in scoring.
“It felt amazing,” Sydnor said about his first collegiate win. “We came out. We did what we were supposed to do. We could have jumped on it earlier, but we did. We did what we were supposed to do and it felt great.”
Turnovers were a key reason the Jaspers took the early deficit tallying eight turnovers in the first eight minutes of the game. The Jaspers were able to limit turnovers the rest of the game as they turned the ball over six times after that.
“Weren’t rushing,” head coach John Gallagher said in terms of the early turnovers. “We were taking what the defense gave us. Anytime that we just react to the ball. We say the ball has eyes. It finds the right guys at the right time. I thought Shaq, Will and Devin did a great job of controlling the game anytime that happens.”
Overall, it was a slow start for the Jaspers, but they seemed to click once they got the flow going in the second half.
MU’s next game will take place on Nov. 22 as they take on the Army in Draddy Gymnasium at 7 p.m.