Metro Atlantic Finals Recap

Manhattan Jaspers 62, Niagara Purple Eagles 61
In an ugly display of basketball, the top seeded Manhattan Jaspers grinded out their second consecutive MAAC tournament championship title, escaping with a 62-61 win versus No. Two Seeded Niagara. A desperation three pointer put up by Niagara senior guard Tremmel Darden fell way short.

“It was like Russian roulette,” said the Jaspers fifth year head coach Bobby Gonzalez following the win. “That Mendez kid is a heck of a player but I’d like to think our defense tonight had something to do with the outcome.” Niagara junior forward Juan Mendez, a First Team All-MAAC selection, single-handedly carried the Purple Eagles back into contention finishing with an impressive 26 points, 12 rebounds (six offensive) and four blocks.

The Purple Eagles were held to a season-low 61 points.

Jaspers super senior guard Luis Flores was held to 16 points on five of 21 shooting, the lowest point total in his last 13 outings. Appropriately Flores scored his 1,993rd point breaking Manhattan’s all-time scoring record previously held by Keith Bullock (’89-93).

The third title in twice as many attempts Manhattan receives the Metro Atlantic automatic bid into the NCAA tournament set to get underway next week. Gonzalez made it clear that his 2004 squad is more deserving than a 14 seed.

“Hopefully they’ll take a look at what we’ve done and get us a higher seed. Our goal was to go beyond what we did last year and we think we have a shot at a 12 seed. I’m not making any predictions this year,” Gonzalez then smiled. “I don’t want them lining me up with the national champions again.”