Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports
The Manhattan Jaspers on Monday night just proved the old adage “It is hard to beat a good team three times in one season.” After losing to Iona by three and four points in the first two games, they flipped the script and won the game that mattered most, the MAAC Tournament Championship. For the second year in a row, the Jaspers beat the Iona Gaels to win the MAAC Tournament title. Manhattan punched it’s ticket to the NCAA Tournament with a 79-69 win for the Jaspers eighth appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
Ashton Pankey and Manhattan found a way to slow down Iona and cool their hot offense. It was enough to send the Jaspers back to the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year. (Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports)
Steve Masiello head coach of Manhattan compared the rivalry to Louisville and Kentucky, a matchup he played in while a member of the Wildcats. He said that it felt the same. This is a rivalry that mimics the Duke-UNC rivalry in that both teams are only 9 miles apart (Duke-UNC are 8 miles), both play each other at least twice a season, and the intensity is on the charts of Duke-UNC just not on a national stage.
The 2015 MAAC Tournament Final lived up to the billing as both teams kept going at one another. A moment late in the first half with Manhattan leading by ten, Iona star A.J. English drove to the basket, and dished the ball off to an open teammate. He got tangled up with Jaspers RaShawn Stores along the baseline. Both players tumbled to the ground, and on the video replay, it showed English made a move with his elbow to extract himself.
That moment led to a English losing his cool, and ended with him getting a technical foul after jawing with the Jaspers, and a flagrant one after the video review for the elbow move. He managed to stay in the game, but his struggles after halftime sunk the Gaels bid to get back to the NCAA Tournament. He was a non factor failing to score and attempting only three shots after a strong close to the first half. He had 10 points on 3-for-11 shooting.
It was typical Manhattan defense,” English said. “They played well. It’s just basketball, just another game.”
A.J. English of Iona (Photo: MARK L. BAER/USA TODAY SPORTS)
Manhattan head coach Steve Masiello (Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports)
“It’s about defense,” Jaspers coach Steve Masiello said. “They shot 39% tonight and they’re one of the best offensive teams in the country. It’s about blue-collar, hard work, put your hard hat on. Let’s go to work. Let’s get dirty. Let’s get ugly. Let’s mix it up and let’s see what you’re made of. “There’s no sizzle, no sexy about us. We’re going to look you in the eye and we’re going to come after you. That’s who we are.”
Who they are is two time defending MAAC Tournament Champions, and after pushing Louisville to the limit before bowing out 71-64 in the round of 64, you better be ready for a fight. Beware if you are a 3 or 4 seed, these Jaspers will bring that blue-collar attitude to you, and you had better be ready. If you are not, then you could be feeling a lot like Iona did last night.