Box Score
NEWARK, NJ—Sophomore guard Chris Smith scored 16 points and Manhattan's defense limited NJIT to 32 points in the visiting Jaspers' 56-32 win in the men's basketball season opener for both teams Saturday afternoon in the Estelle and Zoom Fleisher Athletic Center.
Devon Austin, with 12 points, was the only other double-figure scorer for Manhattan, which answered the Highlanders' strong defensive effort with an even stronger defensive showing of its own.
The Jaspers, who held NJIT scoreless for the first 11:57, limited the Highlanders to 23 percent shooting (10-43) from the field for the game, while dominating the rebounding and allowing the Highlanders just five offensive rebounds.
Contrasted with its offensive difficulties, NJIT pretty much got the defensive statistics it wanted, pressuring Manhattan into 18 turnovers and holding the Jaspers to 37 percent shooting (19-51) from the field, including 3-for-15 on three-point shots.
Junior forward Gary Garris, a transfer playing his first game for NJIT, scored a game-high 17 points in his Highlander debut. Gary's younger brother, Justin Garris, a sophomore, scored 11 points as the brothers combined for 28 of NJIT's 32 points.
Manhattan's 6-foot-8 senior center Herve Banogle pulled down a game-high rebounds, pacing the Jaspers to a 44-27 advantage over NJIT under the boards. Dan Stonkus led the Highlanders with five rebounds.
Saturday's game started slowly, with neither team getting off a shot in the first 2:17, as Manhattan turned the ball over on its first four possessions and NJIT committed three turnovers in the same span.
Manhattan finally scored on a free throw by Smith and the Jaspers extended their lead to 13-0 before the Highlanders finally got on the board with a Justin Garris three-point basket with 8:03 left in the first half.
That basket sparked a 10-2 run for the Highlanders over the next four minutes, capped by a Gary Garris three that closed the score to 15-10 with 4:21 left.
The Jaspers then closed with 11 unanswered points for a 26-10 halftime lead. NJIT, which committed 17 turnovers in the half, made five of its miscues in the 11-0 Manhattan run to halftime.
Manhattan's Smith led all scorers at the half, with nine. The Garris brothers had five points apiece for the Highlanders.
Trailing by 16 points at the half, NJIT got a three-pointer from Gary Garris to make the score 26-13 at the 19:45 mark, but the Highlanders did not score again until Justin Garris sank two free throws with 11:35 left. By then, Manhattan had a 34-15 lead.
Manhattan's Austin answered with a driving layup that made the score 36-15 with 11:23 left and the Jaspers led by at least 20 for the rest of the game.
In addition to Gary Garris, who played two seasons at American University and then sat out last year under NCAA transfer rules, three NJIT freshmen made their college debuts. They were: Teddy Schickel, who played 25 minutes off the bench at guard; Ryan Regis who played 26 minutes as a reserve in the post; and, Mike Maczko, who played 16 minutes and passed off for two assists.
The Highlanders will get back in action quickly, visiting Penn State Monday at 7 pm in game one of the Philly Hoop Group Classic. The game with Penn State will be the first men's basketball game against a team from the Big Ten for NJIT since the Highlanders began playing a Division I schedule in 2006-07.
