Box Score
FORT COLLINS, COLO. - Manhattan senior forward Roberto Colonette collected an offensive rebound and delivered the game-winning put back as the Jaspers defeated Fresno State (2-2) 85-83 on Monday in Fort Collins, Colo. Colonette came up with his last second heroics to cap a wild finish in a 2011 Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip Off consolation contest played at Colorado State.
"Our guys are an extremely gritty group and we didn't go away," explained Manhattan first year head coach Steve Masiello. "They never quit and keep playing. I am really happy with their effort tonight."
Five Jaspers scored in double-figures, including a game-high 14 points from freshman guard Donovan Kates. Colonette lifted Manhattan (3-1) to its third win of the year by scoring 10 of his 13 points over 13 minutes in the second half. He also dominated the glass for a game-high seven rebounds.
Manhattan led the Bulldogs by as many as 14 points with 3:13 minutes remaining before Fresno State sophomore guard Kevin Olekaibe caught fire. He exploded for 22 of his game-high 25 points in the second half and posted 15 points in the final 2:34. Olekaibe, the Bulldogs' leading scorer, converted three 3-pointers and shot a perfect 6-for-6 from the free-throw line during this final stretch to tie the game at 83-83 when he completed a four-point play with 13 seconds on the clock.
The resilient Jaspers answered back immediately as sophomore Michael Alvarado took the ball the length of the court, drew two defenders on a running jumper, which allowed Colonette to corral the rebound under the hoop and post the game-winning lay up.
Alvarado finished with a season-high 12 points, junior guard George Beamon added 13 points and senior guard Liam McCabe-Moran scored a career-high 10 points. Manhattan had its best shooting performance of the season going 48.1% (25-52) from the field and 58.8% (10-17) from 3-point territory. The Jaspers bench overmatched the Fresno State reserves outscoring them 37-24.
Manhattan used its defensive energy and pressure to battle back from an eight point first half deficit. Despite containing Olekaibe for only three points in the opening stanza, the Jaspers trailed 37-33 at halftime.
McCabe-Moran got Manhattan's rally started in the second half with back-to-back 3-pointers just over four minutes into the period. Soon after, sophomore forward Rhamel Brown threw down a two handed jam to give Manhattan its first lead of the half. Manhattan would not trail the rest of the game.
The Jaspers got off and running midway through the stanza using a 24-10 run over a nine minute span to take its largest lead of the contest 73-59 on Brown's layup with 3:13 remaining. Kates buried his third 3-pointer and scored another bucket to help power Manhattan's offensive surge. He had 10 second half points, shooting 3-for-4 from the field. Brown finished with eight points on 4-for-5 shooting, he grabbed four rebounds and had two blocks.
Fresno State generated its late charge on two four-point plays by Olekaibe. The game came down to the wire after Colonette converted two free-throws with 20 seconds on the clock to give Manhattan an 83-79 advantage. On the Bulldogs next trip down court Olekaibe buried his fifth 3-pointer and drew a foul on Colonette as he was falling away. He converted the free-throw to tie the game for the sixth time and set the stage for Colonette's game winning lay up.
Senior guard Kidani Brutus contributed eight points and three assists to Manhattan's winning effort. Jaspers' sophomore center Kevin Laue was a major defensive presence off the bench at the end of the first half as he blocked two shots, grabbed a rebound and sank a free-throw in five minutes of work.
Manhattan completes its participation in the NIT Season Tip Off on Tuesday at 9:30 p.m. eastern when the Jaspers take on Colorado State. Fans can listen to all the action live at GoJaspers.com.
