College basketball on Friday night and we will see the Manhattan Jaspers travel to New Rochelle, New York to take on the Iona Gaels. The game has a start time of 9:00 pm (Eastern) and will be televised on ESPN U. Vegas odds have the Gaels listed as 2.5 point favorites, while the total sits at 162.5.
Analysis: Manhattan comes in with losses in two of their last three contests, including a 90-86 disappointment in overtime last Sunday against Quinnipiac. The Jaspers stand at 14-5 overall and 7-3 in league play. Manhattan has been a very solid offensive squad this year, ranking second in the MAAC in scoring (78.2 ppg), while shooting 43% from the field. George Beamon leads the team in scoring, at 19.6 ppg, while also pulling down 7.1 rpg. Michael Alvarado is the only other plat for the Jaspers that averages in double digits at 14.0 ppg. Rhamel Bwon chips in with 9.1 ppg, while also being a force on the defensive end as he leads the MAAC in blocks at 3.7 per game. Defensively, the Jaspers do allow 71.2 ppg, but on just 40.5% shooting, which is 58th in the nation.
The Gaels have won three straight games, improving to 11-8 overall and pulling into a tie with Quinnipiac for first in the conference standings (8-2) in the process. Iona can light up the scoreboard with the best of them, as it leads the MAAC in scoring (83.2 ppg), assists (17.9 apg) and FG% (48.1%). Sean Armand (18.3 ppg) and A.J. English (17.8 ppg) are the big go to guys on the team, with each among the top-10 scorers in the conference, while Tre Bowman (13.9 ppg) and David Laury (12.3 ppg) also notch double digits for the Gaels. The Gaels play at a high tempo, so while the do score a ton, they also give up a ton, allowing 78.9 ppg (335th) on 46.1% shooting for the year.
Pick: Let's take a shot at the Under in this game. Despite the fact that the Over is 6-2 the last 8 meetings, just 1 of those games put up more than 158 points. Last year the teams played 3 times an all 3 put up less than 149 points. Manhattan has been able to slow this team down and i see them doing that here as well. The Jaspers do allow 71.2 ppg, but on just 40.5% shooting, plus they have allowed just 67.5 ppg (regulation only) in their last 8 games and they have allowed just 71 ppg to the Gaels in their last 5 games at this venue. The Gaels allow 78 ppg at home, but Manhattan puts up just 76.5 ppg on the road. I don't expect either team to hit the 80 point mark in this one.
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