Buzzer-beater fells Manhattan in exhibition matchup against Adelphi

RIVERDALE, NY -- Limited to eight players due to miscellaneous injuries, Manhattan erased a 16-point deficit in the final minutes, but the comeback attempt proved to be in vain as the Jaspers were defeated by Adelphi, losing by the final of 89-86 at Draddy Gymnasium after Michael Coffey connected on a three-pointer from the top of the key as the final buzzer sounded.

"I thought this was a great test for us," said head coach Steve Masiello of his team's lone tuneup before opening the season one week from tonight at Saint Mary's. "We basically had six (scholarship) guys that could play, and this is just how Saint Mary's plays. I just thought we were tired, and defensively we weren't very good because we weren't fresh." 

Injuries to impact players such as RaShawn Stores, Jermaine Lawrence and Samson Usilo; not to mention role players the likes of Calvin Crawford, Carlton Allen and freshman AK Ojo, turned the traditionally deep Jasper rotation into an undermanned corps against Division II Adelphi. To their credit, Manhattan still managed to force 23 turnovers and remain within hailing distance for most of the night before the Panthers gradually took advantage of their depleted opponent to pull away in the latter portion of the second half, leading by as many as 16 points with 4:14 to play.

In the losing effort, Shane Richards had one of the more dominant nights of his career, leading all scorers with 38 points and helping spark a 19-3 Jasper run over the final four minutes that wiped out Adelphi's 83-67 lead before Coffey's heroics. Rich Williams chipped in with 19 points of his own, while Zane Waterman came within one rebound of a double-double, posting nine boards to go with 13 points.

Adelphi, who shot 59 percent from the field and 18-for-36 from three-point range, was led by Coffey and Manny Suarez, who scored 26 points apiece. Suarez added eight rebounds and four steals to complement his 11-for-16 shooting effort in his first game for the Panthers after transferring from Fordham, where head coach David Duke recruited him while serving as an assistant to former Rams boss Tom Pecora. Despite suffering what would normally be considered a heartbreaking loss, Masiello took the night's happenings with a grain of salt.

"I loved our fight," he remarked. "I loved our chemistry, and there are a lot of good things we can build on, and at the end of the day, that's what this time of year is all about. We made some mistakes you're supposed to make this time of year, but I look at it with some upside."