Texas A&M
Manhattan
A&M Snaps Losing Streak, Tops Manhattan in Rainbow Classic
Dec 29, 2000 | Men's Basketball
December 29, 2000
Freshman Nick Anderson scored 22 points with 15 rebounds, both career highs, to lead Texas A&M to a 72-64 victory against the Manhattan Jaspers on Friday in the consolation semifinals of the Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic at the Stan Sheriff Center.
The Aggies (4-6), who ended a three-game losing streak, will play Detroit (9-4) in the tournament?™s fifth-place game on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. (CST). The Jaspers (3-6) will play George Washington (5-6) in the seventh-place game. Saturday?™s championship game will pit Tennessee against host Hawai'i, while Iowa and Saint Louis will play for third place.
A&M trailed the Jaspers, 64-61, with 3:07 left in the game, but a field goal and a free throw by Anderson tied the game, 64-64, with 2:24 remaining. The Aggies, who had made just 18-of-31 from the free throw line to that point, then made eight straight free throws in the final two minutes, six by Bernard King, while shutting out the Jaspers. King had made just 3-of-8 free throws prior to that stretch.
In the final minute, A&M had a scare when Anderson went down with an apparent sprained ankle. His status for Saturday?™s game is unclear, although the injury did not appear to be severe.
"I was pleased that we finally made some plays and executed when we had to at the end of the game," A&M coach Melvin Watkins said. "Nick was very aggressive today and had a super game. We hope this game can be a springboard for us, but we are still making a lot of unforced errors. We expect Saturday?™s game to be another tough one."
Manhattan jumped out to a quick 9-0 lead just two minutes into the game, but A&M came back to lead by as many as eight before settling for a 41-37 halftime margin.
A&M suited up just nine players for the game because of illness and injury. Senior Aaron Jack suffered a hyperextended knee against Saint Louis on Wednesday and watched from bench along with sophomore Brian Brookhart and freshman Dylan Leal. Brookhart has been ill since arriving in Hawai'i while Leal is suffering from an infection in his calf.
In addition to Anderson?™s double-double, A&M was led by King?™s 17 points and five assists while Andy Leatherman added 11 points and Jamaal Gilchrist tagged on eight. Durelle Brown, who came into the game leading the Metro Atlantic Conference in scoring with a 20.6 average, was limited to 15 points, while Justin Jackette scored 17, including four three-pointers. Von Damien Green finished with 11 points.
A&M posted a huge 50-29 rebounding edge and out-shot the Jaspers from the field, 42.0 percent to 33.9 percent. But the Aggies committed 17 turnovers and the Jaspers dropped in 10 three-point field goals to keep the game close.
