Manhattan bottles up Saint Peter's for second straight win

Samir Stewart led Manhattan with 19 points as Jaspers controlled Saint Peter's to win second straight contest Saturday. (Photo by Bob Dea/Daly Dose Of Hoops)

NEW YORK -- On countless occasions, the primary objective for Manhattan has been to play its best basketball when it matters most, progressing as the calendar turns from January to February, and from February to March.

Following Thursday's dominating victory over Fairfield, there was tangible evidence to suggest the Jaspers -- losers of six of eight to begin Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play and owners of a 4-16 record entering that contest -- may have begun to peak at an opportune time, especially with a winnable game against a Saint Peter's team it already defeated once before next on the schedule.

Not only did Manhattan capitalize on its opportunity, it also bottled up the same effort with which it had competed only 48 hours prior.

Behind a game-high 19 points from Samir Stewart, whose three-pointer in the final seconds lifted the Jaspers past Saint Peter's in the first meeting of the season between the two schools on January 17, Manhattan wasted little time resuming where it had left off, leading the Peacocks for nearly the entire contest Saturday night en route to a decisive 64-50 victory at Draddy Gymnasium.

"Coach trusts in the process," Stewart said as the Jaspers (6-16, 4-6 MAAC) started a winning streak Saturday, the program's first since defeating Fairfield and Marist to open conference play last season. "We all talk about the early season and how we didn't play hard, but we're starting to play together, we're starting to gel more, starting to understand what we need to do to win games. Coach is believing in us, putting us in the right positions, and we take advantage when we can."

"He's a terrific freshman point guard," Steve Masiello added, praising the effort from Stewart, who also recorded five of Manhattan's 13 steals. "It's hard to come in from high school and lead a college team. He's got a big, big upside, he's a natural leader. All the things he does, we're about, and I'm proud of him. I'm proud of his growth."

From the onset, the Jaspers took advantage of a Saint Peter's team that only had one day to prepare after a hard-fought contest against MAAC leader Rider Thursday night, opening the game on a 16-5 run and never looking back, blanketing Davauhnte Turner -- the conference's third-leading scorer -- in the process. Turner scored just four points -- all at the free throw line -- and only attempted two field goals, as his head coach was brutally honest in assessing the overall performance of the Peacocks, who were done in by an inability to protect the basketball for the second time in three nights.

"I thought my guys just looked tired," a candid Shaheen Holloway stated as Saint Peter's (6-15, 3-6 MAAC) received 18 points from Manny Dixon in the losing effort, but saw Turner and Sam Idowu shoot a combined 2-for-9 from the floor. "I thought Tay looked out of it, I thought Sammy looked out of it. The last two games, Rider, 25 turnovers, today, 21 turnovers. You can't win games that way."

"We're not really consistent, and I've got to do a better job of making sure guys are ready. Today, we just didn't have anything. I thought we looked flat. I'm very disappointed with our lack of effort. I thought they came out and threw a couple of punches, and we just laid down."

Next up for Manhattan is a date with first-place Rider, who defeated the Jaspers in Lawrenceville on January 19, but comes into Tuesday's rematch on the heels of a loss to Monmouth, making the third contest of a four-game homestand all the more intriguing. It will be a test to see just how much Manhattan has progressed, which in the eyes of its nascent rookie floor general is an ever-evolving display both on and off the floor.

"I definitely believe we've turned the corner," Stewart proclaimed. "At this time of the season, that's when we want to do good. We want to do good in conference play and going into the tournament, but let's just get Tuesday now. Let's get Rider."