MADISON, N.J. – Junior Dom Arena (Bronx, N.Y./Cardinal Spellman) and freshman JoJo Cobbs (Elmsford, N.Y./Briarcliff) both scored a game-high 17 points as the Manhattanville College men's basketball team picked up a big 72-65 victory over FDU-Florham in MAC Freedom action on Wednesday night at the Ferguson Recreation Center.
 
The win is key for Manhattanville (7-11, 3-4 MAC Freedom), which moves into a tie for fifth place and just one game back of third place in the MAC Freedom standings at the midway point of the conference slate. FDU-Florham (6-12, 3-4 MAC Freedom) drops its third straight conference contest to drop into a fifth-place tie with Manhattanville and Wilkes University.
 
Wednesday's win was a full team effort for the Valiants. Arena netted a season-high 17 points and added seven points, five rebounds and two steals as well, while Cobbs scored a season-best 17 and chipped in four rebounds as well. Senior Charles Nardone (Stony Point, N.Y./North Rockland) and junior Alex Tuci (New Rochelle, N.Y./New Rochelle) both scored 10 points each and junior Brian Haggerty (Bayside, N.Y./St. Francis Prep) chipped in nine points as well for the visitors.
 
After Nardone and Haggerty helped the Valiants trade buckets with the Devils for the first three minutes, Manhattanville went on a 12-0 run over the next 3:52 to open up a 16-4 advantage. Arena started the run with back-to-back layups and also added a pair of free throws during the run, which saw the Valiants hit 4-of-6 shots from the field.
 
The visitors held a double-digit lead for almost the entire remainder of the half, with the Valiant advantage growing to as many as 16 points on a layup from junior Chris Ayson (Pelham, N.Y./Pelham Memorial) with 2:41 remaining.
 
Manhattanville built its lead back up to 16 on two more occasions early in the second half, coming on back-to-back possessions that resulted in a Haggerty jumper and a Tuci jumper with 14:34 left on the clock.
 
FDU-Florham hung tough with Manhattanville down the stretch, but the Valiants hit several big baskets to keep themselves in front. With the Valiant lead at 56-52 with five minutes left, Cobbs hit a big three and then Quinlan followed with a huge triple with the shot clock running down to put the visitors up 62-54 with 4:08 left.
 
The Valiants' final field goal of the game came with 1:47 left, but it was a big one as Arena connected on a runner while getting fouled, then completed the three-point play to put his team up eight (67-59) with 1:47 to go. Manhattanville then limited FDU's chances down the stretch and hit five three throws – including three from Cobbs – to secure the conference victory.
 
The Valiants shot the ball well on the night, hitting at a 50.0 percent (28 of 56) clip from the field, including a 14-for-26 mark from the field in the second half. FDU finished the game at 43.1 percent (25 of 58) from the field and was held to just 3-for-20 shooting from beyond the arc.
 
Manhattanville will head back on the road this weekend, as the Valiants begin the second round of MAC Freedom play at King's (Pa.) College on Saturday at 3 p.m.