- Fraser Roxburgh leads Jaspers with 16 points and 5 rebounds
- Shaquil Bender and Will Sydnor combine for 30 points and 17 rebounds
- Canisius' Dylan Godfrey and Paul McMillan IV each score 21 in loss
- Manhattan improves to 9-8 in MAAC conference play
- Both teams face critical Sunday matchups in conference race
In a pivotal Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference clash, Manhattan secured a 77-72 road victory against Canisius on Friday night. The Jaspers' balanced attack saw three players score 15+ points, with sophomore guard Fraser Roxburgh delivering crucial baskets down the stretch. This win strengthens Manhattan's position in the tightly contested MAAC standings as teams jockey for postseason positioning.
Canisius' Dylan Godfrey and Paul McMillan IV combined for 42 points, but the Golden Griffins fell to 3-14 in conference play. Manhattan's defense forced 14 turnovers while maintaining 48% field goal accuracy throughout the contest. The Jaspers dominated paint scoring 38-28 and converted 12 second-chance points off 11 offensive rebounds.
New York college basketball analysts note this victory keeps Manhattan in contention for a first-round bye in the upcoming MAAC Tournament. The Jaspers have now won 4 of their last 6 road games, demonstrating improved consistency in conference play. Meanwhile, Canisius continues to struggle defensively, allowing opponents to average 76.3 points per game in MAAC matchups.
Regional Insight: Upstate New York programs like Manhattan and Canisius face unique recruiting challenges compared to MAAC rivals in metropolitan areas. However, both schools have developed strong pipeline connections with JUCO programs – a strategy responsible for 60% of their current rosters according to NCAA recruitment data.
With Sunday's matchups looming, Manhattan looks to extend its momentum against Niagara, while Canisius seeks to regroup against conference leader Iona. The Jaspers' recent success stems from improved ball distribution, averaging 14.2 assists per game in February compared to 10.7 in November contests.