Manhattan defeats Niagara 79-70

Manhattan Edges Niagara in Thrilling Conference Showdown

The Draddy Gymnasium was electric on Tuesday night as Manhattan (HOME) edged visiting Niagara 79-70, handing the Red Raiders their first home win of the season.

In a back-and-forth contest that saw both teams make crucial adjustments at halftime, Manhattan erased a two-point deficit to take the lead and never look back. The difference in momentum was stark, with Manhattan outscoring Niagara by 10 points over the final 20 minutes to seal the victory.

Devin Dinkins led the charge for Manhattan, scoring 16 points on 2-3 three-point shooting (66.7% FG) while Anthony Isaac chipped in with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Jaden Winston added 9 assists and 16 points off the bench, helping to fuel the Red Raiders' resurgence.

For Niagara, Trenton Walters was the primary threat, scoring 16 points on 4-5 three-point shooting (75% FG). Will Shortt contributed 6 points and 5 rebounds, but the Red Hawks ultimately came up short in their bid for a conference win.

The game's turning point came at halftime, when Manhattan adjusted its defense to limit Niagara's three-point shooting. The Red Raiders' new strategy paid off, as Niagara was held to just 32% shooting (10-25 3PT) over the final 20 minutes.

Advanced statistics revealed that Manhattan's offense thrived in the paint, scoring 36 points against Niagara's 32. The Red Raiders also capitalized on turnovers, turning Niagara's 10 giveaways into 10 points off turnovers.

Manhattan's strong effort marked its first home win of the season and sets up a crucial matchup against next week's opponent. With the victory, the Red Raiders move one step closer to securing a spot in the conference tournament.