It will be a battle between Metro Atlantic Athletic opponents when the Canisius Golden Griffins (7-7) welcome the Manhattan Jaspers (5-8) to Koessler Athletic Center. Action starts at 7:00 pm ET on Thursday, Jan. 7 and will air on ES3.
The Golden Griffins are hoping for a better outcome after their 81-66 loss to Monmouth on Monday. Jermaine Crumpton was the team’s high scorer with 15 points. The Jaspers, meanwhile, are coming off a 92-87 win over Siena on Monday. Shane Richards shot 6 for 12 and led in scoring with 21 points.
Over the last five games, Kassius Robertson has taken his game to another level for the Golden Griffins, averaging 20.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.0 assist, 1.8 steals, and 3.4 three-pointers.
Based on each team’s statistical profile, ball protection could play an integral role in this matchup. Canisius commits the 27th-fewest miscues in the nation (TO% of 15.5%), while the ball-hawking defense of Manhattan forces the 25th-most (opponents’ TO% of 22.8%).
Canisius is a substantial 10-point favorite in this game and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 154 points. The Golden Griffins come into this game 7-7 Straight Up (SU) and 5-5-1 Against The Spread (ATS). The Golden Griffins come into the game with the 17th-ranked scoring offense in the nation, averaging 84.9 points per game. The Golden Griffins are one of the best in Division I in terms of free throws made, making an impressive 20.0 per game. Canisius is known to control the offensive glass, where it racks up an impressive 14.0 offensive rebounds per game. The Golden Griffins, sporting the 43rd-best assist-to-turnover ratio in Division I (1.36), have proven themselves to be an extremely efficient offensive team.
On the other side, the Jaspers head into the game with records of 4-6 ATS and 5-8 SU. They average 8.0 steals per game, good for 46th in the nation.
These conference foes will be facing off in their first head-to-head contest of the season. When they last met the Jaspers were winners, bumping their SU record over their most recent meetings to 7-3. The Jaspers also lead the matchup ATS with a record of 7-3. Manhattan held the advantage in field goals, rebounds, and three-pointers twice in the last five matchups. On the other side of the court, Canisius never accomplished this feat in that span.
Predictions: SU Winner – Can, ATS Winner – Can, O/U – Over
Notes
Canisius is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games.
Canisius is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home.
Canisius is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Manhattan.
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Canisius’s last 6 games when playing Manhattan.
Canisius is 2-7 SU in its last 9 games when playing at home against Manhattan.
Canisius and Manhattan both stand at an even 2-2 SU against their conference.
Canisius scores 88.1 points per home game (ranked 31st). Manhattan ranks a poor 303rd in points allowed on the road, allowing 82.7 points.
On average, Canisius has 74.6 possessions per game and scores 1.137 points on each possession. Manhattan has both fewer possessions (71.7) and scores fewer points during those possessions (.957).
The Canisius Golden Griffins average an effective field goal percentage of 49.8% this season. The Manhattan Jaspers have a subpar record of 2-6 when opponents have an eFG% of 49.8% or greater.
On average, the Canisius Golden Griffins attempt 28.0 three point field goals per game and the Manhattan Jaspers attempt 21.0. In games where they attempt at least 20 threes, Canisius is an even 7-7, while Manhattan has an underachieving record of 3-6.
Canisius ranks 43rd in the nation with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.36. Manhattan is ranked lower at 297th with an A/TO of .85.
Manhattan makes an average of 8.0 steals per game. Canisius has a winning 2-1 record when it allows at least 8 steals.
