Manhattan Wins Second Consecutive Men's Basketball Championship

Manhattan Wins Second Consecutive Men's Basketball Championship

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MAAC Sports

ALBANY, N.Y.  – No. 3 Manhattan College defeated No 1. Iona College, 79-69, in the championship game of the 2015 MAAC Men’s Basketball Championship at the Times Union Center in Albany, New York on ESPN2.

Top seed Iona, got out to a quick 7-3 lead, 1:12 into the title game after connecting on its first three field goals, including a three pointer from Isaiah Williams who was coming off of a record setting semifinal contest. Manhattan’s Ashton Pankey, sparked a 7-0 Jasper run with his slam dunk at the 18:12 mark, giving Manhattan a 10-7 lead. The Jaspers maintained the lead until two Kelvin Amayo free throws helped Iona retake the lead at 20-19 midway through the half, only for Manhattan to quickly regain the lead from a Rashawn Stores layup. Manhattan would hold a ten point lead with slightly over three minutes left in the half when A.J. English went on an 8-0 run himself, bringing the Gaels within two points heading into the locker room.     

In the second half of the contest, the Jaspers pushed its lead back to seven at 49-42, but the Gaels managed to put together eight consecutive points helping them take the lead at 50-49 at the 12:15 mark. The Gael lead only lasted for one minute before Manhattan took it back at 51-50. The game stayed close for the remainder of the contest, but the Jasper would never lose the lead again only allowing Iona to tie the game twice.  

Pankey (21 points, 10 rebounds) and Emmy Andujar (18 points, 11 rebounds) both recorded double-doubles in the game for the Jaspers. Iona was also led by two players who registered double-doubles in David Laury (24 points, 10 rebounds) and Amayo (11 points, 10 rebounds).

With the win, Manhattan College earns the leagues automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship.

Pankey was named championship Most Outstanding Player. The All-Championship Team members where: fromIona College, A.J. English, David Laury, and Isaiah Williams, and from Manhattan, Emmy Andujar, and Shane Richards.