Beamon’s Back To Lead Manhattan

Welcome back George Beamon.

Beamon scored 29 points in his return to the Manhattan lineup and sparked the Jaspers to a 67-56 victory over Hofstra on Wednesday at Draddy Gymnasium.

The return of the Jaspers’ senior star seemed to spark the team early as they jumped out to a 15-2 lead. Hofstra managed to tie the game with 16:16 remaining in the second half, but never led.

“We have a very good team. When [Beamon] is in the lineup we’re a much different team,” said Manhattan head coach Steve Masiello. “Our mentality, our energy was totally different. It’s a compliment to him the impact has on these guys.”

Manhattan wasn’t even sure if Beamon was going to play in the game, but he tested his injured ankle in warm ups and was declared ready to go. Once the whistle blew, Beamon was all over the court, taking several big tumbles, but managing to get up after every one. He grabbed seven boards and went 10-15 from the field. He also quarterbacked the 2-3 zone and made the little plays that helped the Jaspers click for the first time all season.

“I feel like George helps bring a lot of intensity for the team,” said Rhamel Brown. “In the first few games we struggled bringing the intensity without him. He’s our natural leader. He’s been our leader since day one.”

The return of Beamon helped the Jaspers go from awful against Louisville and Harvard, two tough defensive teams, to passable against the Pride. Brown went 7-7 from the floor and scored 15 points. While Beamon didn’t have any assists, the combination of Emmy Andujar, Rashawn Stores and Mike Alvarado had 11 thanks to the space he helped create.

“That’s one of the things that makes [Beamon] a really good player,” Brown said. “When teams are focusing on him he does what he can to get other players involved.”

What Manhattan learned when Beamon was injured was evident during a key stretch in the second half. With Beamon on the bench the Jaspers got two big threes from Alvarado. The junior point guard finished with 12 points and just one turnover in 30 minutes of play.

Manhattan only needs a decent offense because the defense is outstanding. The aggressive pressing and trapping was back in full force on Wednesday. Hofstra struggled shooting the ball, going just 19-49 from the field. The one weakness was that the Pride attempted 29 free throws, including 22 in the second half. But Hofstra failed to take advantage of the opportunity, making just 15.

“They were the more aggressive team,” said Hofstra head coach Mo Cassara. “We were a step slow offensively and defensively.”

The victory in the home opener doesn’t mean that everything is perfect for the Jaspers. Andujar struggled at forward against a bigger Pride lineup and fouled out with 9:39 remaining in the game after scoring just three points. While Alvardo finished 3-6 from three, Ryan McCoy and Rashawn Stores – two other key shooters – combined to go 2-10 from three. McCoy’s shooting will be especially important as his ability to function as a stretch four while rebounding effectively, he had six in 24 minutes, would give Masiello another dangerous front court option. C.J. Jones committed four fouls in 10 minutes of action, but continues to show he is ready for collegiate play and just needs more time in the defensive system.

“We’re not going to be who we are for a little bit,” Masiello said. “I think when we get there we’ll have a chance to be a very good basketball team, but I thought tonight was our best effort for 40 minutes.”

Still, this is the way the Jaspers drew it up when the season started. The defensive locks down. Enough threes fall. Beamon, Brown and Alvarado or Andujar rises to the occasion when called upon and Manhattan pulls down a win.

The pieces are all finally in place.