Friday, November 18, 2016

I’ll Be Quirky: Manhattan


Three-for-three! Alas, the Flying Dutchmen are no longer perfect after squandering a nine-point lead in the final four minutes of Tuesday night’s 90-86 loss to Sacred Heart. They’ll try to get back on track against traditional non-conference rival Manhattan College up in the Bronx (that still doesn’t make any sense) tonight at 7 PM. Here are some quirky facts to get you ready for the tilt. 

OVER THE AIR
Manhattan (with old friend Christian Heimall on the call) will stream the game here for $5.95. The WRHU broadcast is also available for free by clicking here.
TWO OUT OF THREE AIN’T BAD?
The Dutchmen are looking to start a season 2-1 for the second time under Joe Mihalich and the sixth time in the CAA era (2001-present).

Joe Mihalich-coached teams have opened 2-1 seven times (2000-01, 2004-05, 2005-06, 2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10, 2014-15).

MANHATTAN AND THE MAAC
Hofstra is 22-40 all-time against Manhattan and has faced the Jaspers more than any other non-conference foe. Manhattan won the most recent meeting on Nov. 30, 2013, when the Jaspers scored eight of the final nine points to pull away from the Dutchmen, 66-59. It was the eighth straight year in which Hofstra and Manhattan played one another. 

Joe Mihalich, who coached in the MAAC for Niagara for 15 years, is 19-14 all-time against Manhattan. 

Hofstra is 92-115 all-time against current MAAC schools. The Dutchmen are scheduled to host Siena in the final game of the non-conference schedule on Dec. 22. This marks the 10th time in the last 11 seasons the Dutchmen have played at least two MAAC schools (the 2014-15 schedule had no MAAC teams).

ENCORE! ENCORE! ENCORE!
Freshman Eli Pemberton got off to a fast start Tuesday in his attempt to win CAA rookie of the week for the second straight week. Pemberton led the Dutchmen with 23 points — and shot 5-for-5 from 3-point land — in the 90-86 loss to Sacred Heart. He is the first Hofstra freshman in the CAA era to score at least 20 points in each of his first two games and only the fourth freshman to score at least 10 points in each of his first two games.

2016: Eli Pemberton 20 pts vs. Coppin State, 23 pts vs. Sacred Heart
2012: (One of the he who shall not be named): 11 pts vs. Monmouth, 17 pts vs. Purdue
2004: Antoine Agudio: 20 pts vs. Florida International, 13 pts vs. LaSalle
2001: Kenny Adeleke: 10 pts vs. Florida Atlantic, 25 pts vs. Kent State

Only Agudio has opened his Hofstra career by scoring in double digits in his first three games. He scored 22 points against Binghamton on Nov. 27, 2004.

GUSTYS HITS THE TOP 20
Junior Rokys Gustys had 13 rebounds Tuesday night to vault himself into the top 20 on Hofstra’s all-time list. He surged past Henry Schwab and Greg Washington and now has 631 rebounds, the 19th most rebounds in school history. He could pass Percy Johnson and Rich Laurel tonight. 

17.) Rich Laurel, 647
18.) Percy Johnson, 640
19.) ROKAS GUSTYS, 631
20.) Greg Washington, 629

BERNARDI CLOSING IN ON FOURTH FOR THREES
Senior Brian Bernardi drained three 3-pointers Tuesday night and now has 185 in his two-plus seasons at Hofstra. He is just five behind Rick Apodaca for fourth place all-time and seven behind Norman Richardson for third place.

3.) Norman Richardson, 192
4.) Rick Apodaca, 190
5.) BRIAN BERNARDI, 185

HOFSTRA/MANHATTAN CONNECTIONS
Manhattan broadcaster Christian Heimall is a WRHU alum and Hofstra graduate (class of 2011). Injured Manhattan senior Rich Williams originally committed to Hofstra in the spring of 2013. 

THINGS YOU CAN SHOUT ON TWITTER IF CALLS GO DO NOT GO HOFSTRA’S WAY
Dawson Leery bias! (Heimall looks like James Van Der Beek)
Grandmaster Flash bias! (He’s from the Bronx)
Bronx Bombers bias! (duh)
You’re not even in Manhattan bias! (duh x2)

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