DOYLESTOWN, PA. – The Manhattanville College men's basketball team dropped a tough Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom opener, 81-68, on the road at Delaware Valley University Wednesday night, Dec. 5.
The Valiants (4-4, 0-1 MACF) and Aggies (4-3, 1-0 MACF) played a tightly contested first half, as Manhattanville trailed DelVal by just one point, 34-33. Unfortunately, the Aggies took control in the second half and outscored the Valiants by 12 en route to the 13-point win.
Delaware Valley began the second half on a 9-2 run to take an eight-point lead. The closest Manhattanville was able to get was at the 9:12 mark in the second when junior
JoJo Cobbs (Elmsford, N.Y./Briarcliff) dropped in a layup to trim the lead to 55-53. Despite Cobbs' 21 points, the Valiants were unable to surmount the Aggies' lead. Manhattanville was efficient from the foul line with limited opportunities, going 10-of-14. The Aggies, on the other hand, made 24-of-31 from the stripe and had the overwhelming advantage in attempted free throws.
Overall, Cobbs finished with his fifth 20-plus point performance in six games and added seven boards. Sophomore
Sean Smith, Jr. (Yonkers, N.Y./Sacred Heart) led all players with 25 points and was tops on the Valiants with 10 rebounds. He has now scored 20-plus points in four games this season and has three straight double-doubles – four overall in 2018-19.
Highlights:
- Sophomore Mike Granda (Monroe Township, N.J./St. Joseph) and freshman Jake Dunn (Staten Island, N.Y./Monsignor Farrell) each finished with seven points. Dunn lead all players with a game-high five steals.
- Rookie Chris Brown (Miami, Fla./Coral Gables Senior) was held scoreless, attempting just one field goal. However, the freshman blocked a game-high three shots, notched two steals and came down with six boards.
Manhattanville will look to even its MAC Freedom record when it returns to the court this Saturday, Dec. 8, for a 3:00 p.m. contest versus Wilkes University at Kennedy Gymnasium in Purchase, N.Y.
