Men’s Basketball rolls to double-digit victory over Sacred Heart; Swish Gilyard secures a double-double.
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Owen McWalters, Asst. Sports Editor
With the Manhattan University Men’s Basketball team coming off an impressive win against their conference rival, the Niagara University Purple Eagles, the Jaspers looked to keep their momentum going against another conference rival, the Sacred Heart Pioneers, on Thursday. The stage was set for an intense game, but the Jaspers made it clear from the start that they were not going to let up.
The game began with Manhattan setting the tone early, as Jaden Winston scored the first nine of 11 points for the Jaspers, hitting three straight three-pointers to start the game. The Jaspers quickly built a lead, thanks to their sharp perimeter shooting and aggressive drives to the basket. Their defense also played a key role, forcing Sacred Heart into tough shots and capitalizing on turnovers.
When asking what was working offensively, Jaden Winston went on to say, “Just trusting the offense. Playing with each other, and that’s just chemistry, that’s practice, that’s after practice, catching the balls from these guys and letting it go. The confidence that they give me, telling me to shoot it when I don’t have the confidence in myself. It’s a testament to the team.”
When asked about what was working for him defensively, Mariah Gilyard went on to discuss his hustle.
“Defensively, I just had my hands in the lane, being active, hustling, like I always do,” Gilyard said. “And then my team just talking, keeping talkative, and me getting in the right spots.”
Head Coach John Gallagher is proud of his team’s performance not just in terms of getting the job done, but battling physically.
“I think last year, we would have wilted in that physical game,” Gallagher said. “Right now, we want physicality. We are searching it out. It’s like, when you go out at night, if you had the toughest guy with you, you’re tougher. And then you add Fraser [Roxburgh] to the mix. That was a mentality game. So I think we seek physicality. We don’t run from it now. It’s a difference. It’s a big difference.”
Sacred Heart, however, did not back down, responding with a few scoring runs of their own. Their backcourt contributed significantly, knocking down key three-pointers to keep the game competitive. Despite their efforts, the Pioneers struggled to contain Manhattan’s high-energy attack. The Jaspers shot efficiently from the field, connecting on a high percentage of their attempts while also dominating the boards.
As the first half progressed, Manhattan’s balanced scoring attack became evident, with multiple players contributing offensively. Their ability to move the ball and find open looks allowed them to build a double-digit lead. By halftime, the Jaspers had established firm control of the game, leading by a comfortable margin.
Coming out of the break, Sacred Heart attempted to mount a comeback, increasing their defensive intensity and looking for quick baskets. However, the Jaspers remained poised and continued to execute their game plan effectively. Their defensive pressure forced Sacred Heart into contested shots and turnovers, limiting their ability to chip away at the deficit.
The Jaspers will have another game against conference rival, Siena, on Saturday.
*Editor’s note: At time of publishing, Manhattan University has already played Siena.