MADISON, N.J. – Led by a combined 44 points from freshmen Sean Smith (Yonkers, N.Y./Sacred Heart) and Mike Granda (Monroe Township, N.J./St. Joseph), the Manhattanville College men's basketball team picked up an 85-74 victory over FDU-Florham in MAC Freedom action on Tuesday night at the Ferguson Recreation Center.
 
Granda earned his first start since January 6 and responded well, netting a season-high 20 points thanks to 4-of-8 shooting from three-point range to go with four assists, four steals and three rebounds. Smith also recorded his fourth double-double in the last six contests with a game-high 24 points and 13 rebounds.
 
Both teams shot over 50 percent in the first half, with the Valiants at 51.5 percent (17 of 33) and the Devils at 52.0 percent (13 of 25). But the visitors sunk 7-of-18 attempts from beyond the arc and also converted 12 turnovers into 18 points at the other end to take a 46-30 lead into the locker rooms.
 
Granda led the visitors at the half with 13 points, including a 3-of-5 effort from long range, while Smith added 11 points and seven boards in the first 20 minutes. Seniors Brian Haggerty (Bayside, N.Y./St. Francis Prep) and Timmy Quinlan (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Peter's Boys) both had an efficient half as well, with Haggerty hitting all three shots for seven points and Quinlan draining both of his attempts from deep for six points.
 
Manhattanville led by as many as 19 points early in the second half after a pair of Smith free throws 1:46 into the stanza. The Valiants were still comfortably ahead after a jumper from senior Chris Ayson (Pelham, N.Y./Pelham Memorial) made the score 63-48 with 10:16 remaining, but the Devils went on a 16-3 run over the next 4:09 to get back within two at 66-64 with 6:07 left.
 
Sophomore JoJo Cobbs (Elmsford, N.Y./Briarcliff) put a stop to the run, however, scoring six of the next seven points along with a Granda free throw to get Manhattanville back up 73-64 with 3:46 on the clock and the visitors closed out the game from there. Cobbs finished with 12 points and was also joined in double figures by Haggerty, who sunk a three to clinch the game on the way to a 10-point night.
 
Manhattanville will close out the 2017-18 season on Saturday at Misericordia University beginning at 3 p.m.