Box Score
Contact: David O'Brian (dobrian@binghamton.edu)
UNCASVILLE, Conn.—Shane Richards scored a game-high 24 points, leading Manhattan (1-2) to a 78-63 win over Binghamton (1-4) in a Hall of Fame Tip Off Tournament game on Saturday afternoon at the Mohegan Sun Arena. The game was the third of four Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament contests the Bearcats play in this year.
Known for their ability to create turnovers, the Jaspers forced 20 Binghamton miscues and converted them into 30 points. From the field, Manhattan shot 49.1 percent, making 28 of its 57 shot attempts.
"We played against a very good team tonight," head coach Tommy Dempsey said. "I was proud of our guys. I thought we battled hard but they forced those turnovers tonight and shot the ball very well."
The Bearcats, meanwhile, shot 42.2 percent from the field (19-45). Freshman forward Willie Rodriguez finished with a career-high 23 points while freshman forward Justin McFadden and sophomore guard Marlon Beck II each added 10 points.
The Jaspers went on an 8-0 run in a span of 49 second to go up 19-10 with 12:04 left in the first half. Richards nailed a three pointer and sank a pair of free throws during that stretch.
Manhattan closed out first half on a 9-1 run in final 2:22 to go up 43-27 at the break. Calvin Crawford scored five straight points during that stretch.
Rich Williams scored five straight points in a span of 23 seconds, extending the Jasper lead to 58-37 with 12:30 left in regulation.
The Bearcats clawed their way back into the game, going on an 8-0 run to pull within 66-55 with 5:29 left in regulation. Beck punctuated the run with a three-point field goal.
Ashton Pankey, however, scored five straight points to put the Jaspers up 75-59 with 1:25 left to go. He and Williams each finished with 11 points.
Binghamton will face Navy at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday in its final game of the Hall of Fame Tip Off Tournament.
NOTES: Rodriguez added a team-high eight rebounds and blocked a shot.