Box Score PURCHASE, N.Y. - The Manhattanville University men's basketball team matched up with Saint Joseph's Long Island University tonight in Kennedy Gymnasium. A dominating performance by the Golden Eagles pegs the Valiants down to a 7-13 overall record with the final score of the contest concluding at 74-54.
With one turnover after another, the Golden Eagles struck first with back-to-back baskets beyond the arc to open the game 6-0. The Valiants retaliated with back-to-back three-pointers from John Ranaghan (Pearl River, N.Y./Pearl River) and Andrew Saint-Louis (Norwalk, Conn./Notre Dame Fairfield) to start off the scoring for Manhattanville. SJLI took a six-point lead before forcing the Valiants hand, taking their first timeout of the contest at 12-6. The Golden Eagles expanded their margin by twelve points, 18-6 with 11:18 remaining in the first stanza. The Valiants faulted to a full court press, leading to their first basket in nine minutes. Finally hitting double digits with 3:31 remaining, a layup from Saint-Louis pushed the score to 35-11. The first half came to a close with 39-15 reflecting on the scoreboard. Manhattanville was held to a field goal percentage of 20 compared to SJLI 55.2 percent.
The Valiants drilled the first basket to open the second half. Looking more in sync, Daniel Marinaccio (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Joseph By The Sea) drilled a three, Saint-Louis and Ranaghan dropped jumpers to bring the score to 47-27. Benjamin Merritt (West Hartford, Conn./Kingswood Oxford) dropped back-to-back threes with Ranaghan making a basket beyond the arc shortly after bringing the score to 53-38 with 9:06 remaining. Keeping the score differential to no less than fifteen, the Golden Eagles continued to score regardless of the Valiants offensive effort shift into the second stanza. Keeping a more back and forth pace in the remaining minutes, the final score stood at 74-54.
Saint-Louis led the squad in scoring with seventeen points. Ranaghan followed closely behind with fourteen points, being the only two Valiants to earn double digit figures. Six other Valiants contributed to the mix this evening.
Andrew Melillo (Staten Island, N.Y./Monsignor Farrell) took the lead in rebounds for the Valiants with five while Saint-Louis, Merritt, Jack Scanlon (Pearl River, NY/Pearl River High School) and Emanuel Udeagha each had four a piece.
SJLI led the charge in field goal percentage with 50.8 for the contest compared to Manhattanville's 30.2 percent. The Golden Eagles led the entire game with the largest lead in the first half at 35-8.
Up Next
The Valiants travel to UMSV this Saturday for a 12:00pm start.
