Game No. 20
Presented by Tim Hortons and Hart Hotels
Canisius (4-15, 1-8 MAAC) vs. Manhattan (14-7, 7-2 MAAC)
Date: Friday, Jan. 27, 2012
Time: 7:15 p.m.
Place: Koessler Athletic Center - Buffalo, N.Y.
TV: None
Online Video: Golden Griffin Broadcast Network and MAAC.TV
Radio: Golden Griffin Broadcast Network
Talent: Jay Moran (p-x-p) and Dave Schofield (color)

CANISIUS HOSTS RED-HOT MANHATTAN FRIDAY NIGHT

• The Canisius men's basketball team gets back to work tonight when the Golden Griffins take on Manhattan College in the Koessler Athletic Center.
• The Griffs are 4-15 overall and 1-8 in league play after falling to Rider on the road by a score of 89-65 last Sunday afternoon.
• Manhattan enters this game with a 14-7 overall mark and a 7-2 MAAC record. The Jaspers have won five straight, which is the longest active win streak in the MAAC.

FAST BREAK POINTS

• Canisius and Manhattan are meeting in Buffalo for the 51st time in this series which dates back to 1909-10 season. The series in Buffalo is tied at 25-25.
• The Griffs have beaten Manhattan three-straight times, dating back to the 2009-10 season, the program's longest active winning streak over a MAAC opponent.
• The Blue and Gold enter tonight's game ranked 115th in the nation with 7.3 steals per game. In the last five contests, the Griffs are averaging 8.8 steals per game.
• Canisius has been strong on the offensive glass all season, and the team comes into tonight's game averaging 13.1 offensive rebounds per game, which ranks second in the conference.
• Junior Harold Washington comes into this game ranked third in the MAAC  and 68th in the nation in scoring average with 17.3 points per game.
• Washington scored a team-high 22 points in the loss at Rider Jan. 22, marking the seventh time this year he's been good for 20-or more points in a game.
• Junior guard Gaby Belardo was good for 19 points at Rider last Sunday and comes into this game averaging 14.5 points and 4.2 assists per game since rejoining the starting lineup Jan. 5.
• Freshman forward Josiah Heath starts tonight's game with eight rebounds in each of the Griffs' last three outings. He ranks 10th in the MAAC with his 6.1 rebounds per game.
• Freshman guard Franklin Milian scored a career-high seven points in a career best 15 minutes of action in the team's last outing at Rider Jan. 22.

ABOUT THE JASPERS

• Manhattan comes into tonight's game riding a five-game winning streak after the team defeated Niagara at home Jan. 22, by a score of 71-64.
• The Jaspers are 14-7 overall and 7-2 in MAAC play this season. Manhattan starts its annual trip to Buffalo in a three-way tie for first atop the MAAC standings along with Iona and Loyola.
• Junior George Beamon leads Manhattan and ranks fourth in the MAAC in scoring average with 17.2 points per game.
• Sophomore guard Michael Alvarado ranks seventh in the MAAC with his 3.4 assists per game, but in the last five contests, he's averaging 4.4 helpers per contest.
• Manhattan's trademark this season is its team defense. The Jaspers lead the MAAC and rank 25th in the nation in field goal percentage defense, with opponents shooting 39.0 percent from the floor.

CANISIUS - MANHATTAN SERIES

• Tonight's meeting between Canisius and Manhattan is the 79th contest between these two schools, with the Jaspers holding a 46-32 lead in the all-time series.
• The Griffs have taken three-straight games in this series after sweeping the regular-season series last year.
• Canisius has served as the host in this series 50 times, with each team winning 25 games.
• These two programs first met on the hardwood during the 1909-10 season, with Canisius scoring a 33-11 win in Buffalo.