NEW LONDON, Conn. – Manhattanville University men's basketball started off the 2026-27 campaign with a hard-fought 87-76 loss at Mitchell College on Saturday afternoon.
Jaiden Gaston (Queens Village, N.Y./Monsignor McClancy) adjusted to the Valiants' offense quickly; in his first game with his new squad, he posted 24 points, going 4-for-6 from beyond the arc. John Ranaghan (Pearl River, N.Y./Pearl River) was next on the scoresheet with 18 points in his senior season debut.
While playing a team-leading 38 minutes, Isiah Middleton (Miami, Fla./Westminster Christian) recorded the first double-double for the Valiants in the season with 12 points and 13 rebounds. Middleton took down eight defensive rebounds while also taking away three steals.
Andrew Melillo (Staten Island, N.Y./Monsignor Farrell) also took away three steals while adding four to the board and grabbing three defensive rebounds. Ian Abreu (Pleasantville, N.Y./Loomis Chaffee) made his collegiate debut, taking the starting spot and adding seven points and four rebounds.
The Valiants struggled to convert plays in the first half as the home defense held the visiting team to 22% from the three-point line and 34% from within the arc while posting 60% and 53% from the same categories. The Mariners jumped out early with a 12-2 lead before the offense ignited for the Vals to push the game to within four, 24-20, with under ten to play in the first half. A layup from Emerson Mitchell (Dunwoody, Ga./Dunwoody) forced the game to be a single-basket decision at 26-25 with eight to play.
The home team went on a 16-4 run to round out the first half up 42-30.
The Valiants came out of the locker rooms ready, igniting for a 17-5 run to knot the game up at 47. The home team went on to slowly become out of reach for the Vals, ending with an 87-76 decision to open the season.
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The Valiants take tomorrow to recover, preparing for action on Monday at Kean University.
