Game No. 14 - Canisius (5-8, 0-3 MAAC) vs. Manhattan (7-6, 1-2 MAAC)
Presented by Integrity Distribution
Date: Monday, January 5, 2009
Site: Koessler Athletic Center (2,176); Buffalo, N.Y.
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Webcast: GoGriffs.com
Radio: CJRN 710-AM and through GoGriffs.com
Talent: Jay Moran (p-x-p) and Adam Noto (color)

FAST BREAK POINTS

• The Canisius College men's basketball team closes out a two-game MAAC homestand tonight when the team plays host to Manhattan in the Koessler Athletic Center.
• The Golden Griffins are 5-8 overall and 0-3 in conference play after falling at home to Loyola Jan. 3.
• The home loss to the Greyhounds snapped Canisius' two-game winning streak and also ended the program's three-game home winning streak.
• Tonight's game is presented by Integrity Distribution.
• Manhattan has lost three in a row and comes into tonight's contest with a 7-6 overall record and a 1-2 mark in MAAC action.
• Canisius shot a season best 38.5 percent (5-for-13) from 3-point range in Saturday's loss to Loyola.
• The Griffs have been credited with 38 assists in the last three games, with junior Frank Turner dishing out 18 of those helpers. Turner had a season-high eight assists in the game against Loyola Jan. 3.
• Turner leads the team in scoring average at 13.2 points per game. He had 10 points against Loyola on Saturday to give him double figures in the scoring column 11 times this season.
• Turner's start tonight will be the 68th in his career. He has started every game this season and in 37-straight games entering tonight's action.
• Canisius junior Chris Gadley had a career-high 25 rebounds at Maine Dec. 30. That number stands as the most rebounds in a game by a Division I player this season.
• Gadley's 25 boards against the Black Bears was one shy of tying the school record for rebounds in a single game and matches the MAAC's single-game rebounding mark, which is also held by former Fairfield player Darren Phillip. Phillip had 25 rebounds against Marist Jan. 5, 2000.
• Guard Julius Coles scored in double figures for the fourth-straight game Saturday against Loyola when he posted a team-high 15 points.  He enters tonight's game averaging 12.8 points per game since moving into the starting lineup Dec. 1, at Howard.
• Senior Bob Bevilacqua matched a career high with four assists at Maine Dec. 30.
• The Griffs lead the MAAC and 38th in the nation in field goal percentage defense, with opponents shooting 38.4 percent against them this season.
• Canisius has held two opponents (Howard and Maine) to less the 50 points on the scoreboard this season, the first time that has happened since the 1996-97 season.
• As a team, the Griffs rank among the MAAC's top-five in four different defensive categories.
• The Griffs will play their next two games on the road at Iona and at Fairfield Jan. 11.

ABOUT THE JASPERS

• Manhattan enters tonight's game on a three-game losing skid after falling to Niagara Jan. 3, in Lewiston, N.Y.
• The Jaspers are 7-6 overall and 1-2 in MAAC play. Their lone league win came Dec. 5, at home when the team beat Canisius 81-63.
• Guard Chris Smith leads the team in scoring average at 14.7 points per game, which ranks sixth in the MAAC.
• Forward Devon Austin ranks third on the team in scoring average at 10.5 points per game and ranks second on the squad with 5.0 rebounds per game. The senior from White Plains, N.Y., was a high school teammate of Canisius sophomore Rishawn Johnson.
• As a team, Manhattan ranks third in the MAAC in scoring defense, allowing 65.2 points per game, while ranking ninth in the conference in field goal percentage defense, with opponents shooting 45.2 percent from the floor this season.

CANISIUS - MANHATTAN SERIES

• Tonight's game between Canisius and Manhattan will be the 74th all-time meeting between these two schools and the 40th MAAC contest.
• The first meeting between the Griffs and the Jaspers was during the 1909-10 season where the Blue and Gold posted a 33-11 victory.
• Since the 1999-2000 season, Manhattan boasts a 14-5 record in this series.
• The Griffs are 24-23 all-time at home against Manhattan.
• The Jaspers enter tonight's game in Buffalo on a three-game winning streak in the series and have won five of their last six games played in the Koessler Athletic Center.