Manhattan basketball heads to Niagara seeking to halt five-game road skid Friday night

Manhattan travels to the Gallagher Center on Friday, February 13, with tip set for 6: 30 p. m. ET, looking to steady course in conference play against Niagara. The Jaspers enter at 10-16 overall and 6-9 in league action, while the Purple Eagles stand at 6-18 and 3-11.

Tip time and setting

Friday’s matchup in Western New York brings a familiar late-winter test: a tight gym, a conference opponent, and a Manhattan team trying to flip its road fortunes. The Jaspers have dropped five straight away from home, and a composed start will be paramount in a venue that rewards energy plays and second-chance points.

Recent form for both sides

Manhattan arrives with momentum after an 80-68 home victory in its most recent outing. Guard Jaden Winston paced the Jaspers with 21 points, adding timely perimeter shot-making and on-ball defense. Forward Fraser Roxburgh contributed 15 points and knocked down three triples, stretching the floor and opening driving lanes late.

Niagara returns to its floor after a narrow 56-55 road defeat in its last game, a defensive grind that came down to the final possessions. Forward Will Shortt posted a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds, also tallying three blocks to anchor the rim. Guard Landon Williams added 10 points and two steals, hitting three shots from long range to keep the Purple Eagles within striking distance throughout.

Players to watch

For Manhattan basketball, Winston’s downhill pressure and control in late-clock situations have keyed recent half-court improvements. If he gets to his spots early, the Jaspers can dictate tempo and limit empty trips. Roxburgh’s perimeter touch (3 of 5 from deep in the last outing) gives Manhattan a valuable pick-and-pop option that can pull opposing bigs away from the paint.

Niagara leans on Shortt’s physicality on the glass and shot deterrence. His ability to seal inside and create second chances could tilt the possession battle. Williams’ spacing threat (3-for-6 from beyond the arc in his last game) is critical to keep Manhattan’s help defense honest and open driving lanes for cutters.

Keys to the matchup

• Rebounding margin: Manhattan must limit Niagara’s put-back chances to prevent the game from becoming a grind. Keeping Shortt off the offensive glass is priority one.
• Turnover control: The Jaspers’ road skid has often coincided with stretches of giveaways. Clean entries to the post and decisive perimeter ball movement will help stabilize the offense.
• Early shot quality: Both teams have battled scoring droughts this season. Finding high-percentage looks early—slips to the rim, corner threes off drive-and-kick—could set the tone and reduce late-game pressure.
• Paint touches vs. help rotations: If Manhattan collapses effectively on Niagara’s interior actions without surrendering rhythm threes, it can keep the Purple Eagles in the half-court mud.

What’s at stake in conference play

With the calendar turning to mid-February, every result reshapes seed lines. A road win would steady Manhattan’s league footing and end a skid that has obscured flashes of balanced play. For Niagara, defending home court keeps the ladder within reach and provides a late-season confidence marker after a string of close contests.

These programs often thrive in low-possession, detail-driven games at this stage of the year. Free throw discipline, end-of-half execution, and defensive rebounding are likely to separate the winner in a matchup where neither side can afford extended lulls.

Around the program

On the women’s side, Niagara’s recent meeting with Manhattan on Thursday night ended with the Jaspers prevailing, a result that underscored Manhattan’s defensive backbone and timely shot-making. That performance offers a parallel for Friday’s men’s tilt: if Manhattan imposes structure and guards without fouling, the visitors can make late-game possessions count.

Tip-off is 6: 30 p. m. ET at the Gallagher Center. Expect a charged building, a possession-by-possession flow, and another chapter in a February stretch where margins are thin and every loose ball matters.