The women’s basketball team fell to Iona this past Saturday, Jan. 31. BRENDEN WILLSCH / COURTESY
Zeke Jazwinski Sports Editor
Manhattan University (MU) Men’s Basketball team (9-14, 5-7 MAAC) held off the Broncs of Rider University (2-18, 1-10 MAAC) by a score of 95-90 inside Draddy Gymnasium on Friday evening.
Redshirt junior Devin Dinkins, who was named Preseason All-MAAC First Team before the season, led the charge with 22 points. He started the game off hot with a pair of threes after Rider jumped out to a 4-0 lead.
It was back and forth between the two schools until freshman Quron Elliott jump-started the Jaspers with a fast break score, off Jaden Winston’s second steal of the game.
At the start of the second half, the Jaspers started to pull away with a three-pointer by sophomore Marko Ljubicic that made the Jaspers lead stretch to a game-high seven points.
Just under the halfway point of the second half, sophomore Fraser Roxburgh hit back-to-back three-pointers that kept the Jaspers lead at seven.
The Broncs were able to cut that lead down to one by making their last three out of four layup attempts, but the Jaspers were able to hold on during the ending stretch and complete the series sweep this season.
The Jaspers look to continue this momentum against Mount St. Mary’s on Sunday.
Women’s Basketball
Manhattan University women’s basketball team (5-16, 5-7 MAAC) dropped its conference matchup to the Iona Gaels (14-9, 7-5 MAAC), 65-51, inside Draddy Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon.
Iona opened the game on a 6-0 run before Manhattan responded with an and-one from Senior Brianna Davis to cut into the early deficit. The Jaspers remained within striking distance throughout the first quarter, with Graduate Student Colette Mulderig’s layup late in the frame pulling Manhattan within three, which is the closest this game would be before the Gaels extended the lead to nine heading into the second.
Free throws helped keep Manhattan close in the second quarter, as the Jaspers converted all four of their attempts at the line. Graduate Student Agar Farrés Garcia knocked down a layup just before halftime, sending the Jaspers into the break trailing 33-25.
Manhattan was unable to generate sustained offense coming out of halftime, as Iona continued to control the pace in the third quarter. The Gaels capitalized on turnovers and second-chance opportunities to push the lead into double digits, forcing the Jaspers to play from behind for the remainder of the contest.
Despite multiple defensive stops, Manhattan struggled to convert on the offensive end as Iona maintained its advantage entering the final period. Graduate student Elisa Solé Sanchez connected on a 3-pointer to open the second half and slow an early Iona push, but was quickly called for a technical foul, which killed the Jaspers’ momentum.
Mulderig and Davis each reached double figures as the game progressed, while Farrés Garcia added her first Division I 3-pointer late in the contest. Despite winning the final quarter, it was no match for the lead that the Gaels built and the Jaspers would end up falling 65-51. The Jaspers look to right the ship this Thursday at Rider.
The Jaspers secured a victory against Rider with a score of 95-90. BRENDEN WILLSCH / COURTESY