NEW YORK (Interstat) — Manhattan used a strong second half to defeat Niagara 79-70 in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference men’s basketball game Sunday at Draddy Gymnasium. The Jaspers, who trailed 38-36 at halftime, outscored the Purple Eagles 43-32 after the break to secure the victory. Manhattan improved to 8-10 overall, while Niagara fell to 4-12. The Jaspers capitalized on transition opportunities, scoring 10 fastbreak points to Niagara’s four. Manhattan also held a 36-32 edge in points in the paint. Attendance was 721. Niagara’s Kabeya Tshibangu, a 6-foot-8 forward from Justin, Texas, was noted among the key performers. Manhattan’s effort was led by Quron Elliott, a 6-2 guard from Baltimore. The Jaspers covered the pregame spread as favorites.

NEW YORK (Interstat) — Jaden Winston orchestrated a decisive second-half surge, scoring 16 points and dishing nine assists to lead Manhattan to a 79-70 victory over Niagara in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference men’s basketball game Sunday at Draddy Gymnasium. The Jaspers, who trailed by two at halftime, outscored the Purple Eagles 43-32 after the break to improve to 8-10 overall. Niagara dropped to 4-12. The most critical phase of the game unfolded early in the second half, where Manhattan transformed a narrow 36-38 deficit into a commanding lead. After Niagara’s Justin Page opened the half with two free throws to extend the Purple Eagles’ lead to four, the Jaspers erupted with a 15-2 run over a four-minute span. The burst was fueled by stifling defense and efficient offense, turning a 39-41 contest into a 54-43 Manhattan advantage. Winston was the catalyst, assisting on three consecutive baskets during the run. He found Erik Oliver-Bush for a jumper, then connected with Marko Ljubicic for an alley-oop, before capping the sequence with a driving layup of his own. The run also included a three-pointer from Devin Dinkins and a powerful alley-oop finish by Terrance Jones, again from a Winston pass. This stretch established a double-digit cushion that Niagara would challenge but never overcome. Niagara, led by Trenton Walters’ 16 points and six assists, showed resilience. The Purple Eagles answered Manhattan’s big run with a 9-2 spurt of their own, highlighted by two three-pointers from Walters, to close the gap to 56-52 with 13:07 remaining. However, the Jaspers consistently responded to every Purple Eagle push. Anthony Isaac, who scored 14 points, was pivotal inside, converting key putbacks and layups to keep Niagara at bay. Whenever Niagara trimmed the lead to a single possession in the second half, Manhattan had an answer. After a Vice Zanki three-pointer brought Niagara within 54-52, Winston immediately hit a stepback jumper. Later, when a Josiah Sabino layup made it 66-64 with just over four minutes left, Isaac scored on a tip-in and then another layup on the next possession, both assisted by Winston, to push the lead back to six. Manhattan’s balance proved decisive. Alongside Winston’s near double-double and Isaac’s interior scoring, Dinkins added 16 points, including four crucial free throws in the final minute. Fraser Roxburgh contributed 13 points. The Jaspers dominated in transition, outscoring Niagara 10-4 on fastbreak points, and were more efficient capitalizing on mistakes, holding a 10-7 edge in points off turnovers. For Niagara, Walters and Reggie Prudhomme, who scored 11, provided backcourt scoring, while Page finished with 13 points. Justin Hawkins added six points and five assists. The Purple Eagles shot well early, building their halftime lead behind hot three-point shooting, but cooled considerably against Manhattan’s intensified second-half defense. The game began at a brisk pace, with Niagara’s Prudhomme hitting two quick three-pointers to help the visitors establish an early lead. The first half featured seven ties and six lead changes, with neither team leading by more than five points. Niagara took a 38-36 advantage into the locker room after a tightly contested opening period, but Manhattan’s explosive start to the second half changed the game’s trajectory. With the win, Manhattan snapped a two-game skid and looks ahead to a road game at Fairfield on Wednesday. Niagara, which has lost three of its last four, travels to face rival Canisius on Wednesday. An announced crowd of 721 watched the contest, which saw the combined score of 149 fall under the pregame over/under line of 144.5. Manhattan entered the game as a 6.5-point favorite according to sportsbooks, a margin they covered with their late free throws.

NIAGARA SEEKS ROAD WIN AGAINST MANHATTAN IN MAAC MATCHUP NEW YORK (Interstat) — The Manhattan Jaspers look to get back to .500 when they host the struggling Niagara Purple Eagles in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference men’s basketball game Sunday at Draddy Gymnasium. Manhattan (7-9) enters the contest after a 73-66 road loss at Merrimack last Sunday, which snapped a three-game winning streak. The Jaspers have shown resilience at home this season, including an 80-79 victory over Quinnipiac on Jan. 2. Niagara (4-10) aims to halt a two-game skid, most recently an 83-75 home loss to Fairfield. The Purple Eagles have found wins scarce, with their last victory a 64-61 decision against Sacred Heart on Jan. 2. The game features a compelling backcourt duel between two of the MAAC’s top scorers. Manhattan is led by dynamic guard Jaden Winston, who averages 17.4 points and 5.4 assists over his last five games. He scored 22 points and dished six assists in the win over Quinnipiac. Niagara will counter with high-scoring guard Justin Page, who is averaging 16.6 points per game. Page is coming off a 21-point performance against Fairfield and has scored 20 or more points in three of his last six outings. For Manhattan, consistency beyond Winston will be key. Anthony Isaac and Fraser Roxburgh each added 16 points and eight rebounds in the loss to Merrimack. The Jaspers have been competitive in close games, with three of their last five contests decided by six points or fewer. Niagara, which has lost eight of its last ten, needs more offensive support for Page. Will Shortt (12 points, 7 rebounds, 4 blocks vs. Fairfield) and Landon Williams have provided moments of production, but the Purple Eagles have been held under 75 points in nine of their ten losses. Defensive intensity may decide this matchup. Manhattan has allowed an average of 76.1 points per game, while Niagara has surrendered 77.6. Whichever team can string together stops and control the tempo will have a significant advantage. This is the first of two scheduled meetings between the schools this season. They will meet again at Niagara on Feb. 13. Following this game, Manhattan begins a two-game road trip at Fairfield on Wednesday. Niagara continues its road swing at conference foe Canisius on Wednesday.