Harold Washington notched a double-double in a losing effort for the Golden Griffins. (Photo by Tom Wolf imaging)

By Paul Casey Gotham

BUFFALO, NY — It was just a matter of time. Playing without their point guard, the Canisius Golden Griffins committed just two turnovers in the first half. That number more than doubled in the game’s final four minutes.

Using a three-quarter court press the Rider Broncs scored 13 straight to down the Canisius Golden Griffins 71-66 in Metro Atlantic Athletic action at the Koessler Athletic Center Thursday night.

Novar Gadson’s up and under move gave the Broncs their first lead of the game at 64-63 with 2:04 remaining. The basket came in the middle of a run where the Broncs created turnovers on five consecutive Canisius possessions.

“It was probably my mistake that we weren’t in it a little bit earlier,” Rider coach Tommy Dempsey said of going to the press. “Considering that they were playing without a true point guard.”

Canisius point guard Gaby Belardo was forced to watch from the sidelines as his teammates succumbed to the late pressure. The junior guard’s back has ailed him since November, but he has been able to contribute in past games.

As a result fellow teammates were forced into different roles. Alshwan Hymes, who usually plays at the back end of the press break to stretch the defense with his shooting range, was forced into sharing the ballhandling responsibilities.

“We were also cautious about not losing Hymes,” Dempsey continued. “That was why we didn’t press for a while.”

“Down the stretch we had guys in positions who are normally not in those positions,” Canisius coach Tom Parrotta explained. “We needed to handle the pressure a little bit better. It didn’t bother us early on in the game, and I think they turned it up a little bit.”

Anthony Myles added four in the late run as the Broncs came back from ten down at 59-49. The sophomore guard drove baseline and sent home a powerful dunk to pull the Broncs within three. He followed with a finesse catch-and-shoot jumper in the lane to make it a one-point game.

Chris Manhertz scored six straight as the Griffs took their largest lead of the game earlier in the stanza.  The sophomore forward took a Hymes pass and nailed a jumper just outside the lane. After a pair of free throws, Manhertz found the soft spot in the Rider press and caught a pass at the free throw line from David Santiago turned and hit for a 57-49 lead.

But the Griffs struggled to find that soft spot in the game’s last two minutes.

“Down the stretch we needed to maintain our composure a little bit more,” Manhertz noted. “It’s obviously very disappointing for us. At the same time, it’s something for us to learn from.”

The Golden Griffins used a quartet of mini runs to grab a five-point edge at half.

Franklin Milian started the scoring with a catch-and-shoot three from Kevin Bleeker. After a stop at the other end, Harold Washington finished a layup in traffic for a 5-0 advantage.

Washington scored five straight as the Griffins took 15-9 lead. The junior guard pulled up from behind the arc in transition and connected.  He followed with a drive from the left using the rim as a shield and finished on the other side of the lane.

Manhertz and Josiah Heath combined as the Canisius went up 21-12. Manhertz drew contact on consecutive possessions and hit all four from the free throw line. Heath beat the shot clock with a baseline jumper.

Canisius finished the stanza scoring five in a row.  Hymes went to the basket and got credit for the deuce on a goaltending call. Milian drained his second trey of the half with a pull up jumper from the top.

Gadson led the Broncs with eight points and seven rebounds through first 20 minutes. The junior forward connected on a pullup three to close an early gap at 8-6. Gadson then finished a traditional three-point play as Rider trailed 21-15.

Hymes paced the Griffs early in the second half to a ten-point lead.

The junior stole a Rider pass in transition, used a behind the back dribble to free himself of pressure before pulling up at the free throw line for a basket. Washington grabbed a long rebound at the defensive end and led Hymes into the open for a layup. By the time Hymes hit a jumper, the Griffs held a 44-34 lead.

Brandon Penn hit from the free throw line , and Gadson scored on a jump hook in the lane as Rider stayed close.

Gadson added nine rebounds to a game-high 19 points.  The junior forward now ranks tenth all-time in rebounds for the Broncs.

Penn added a double-double with 12 points and 10 boards. Jeff Jones and Myles chipped in 10 and 12 respectively.

Manhertz and Washington scored 15 apiece. Washington notched his first career double-double grabbing 10 on the glass.

Milian added 11 with Hymes getting 10.

Rider improves to 8-6 in the MAAC and 11-15 overall. The Broncs play at Niagara on Saturday.

Canisius falls to 1-13 and 4-20. The Griffs host Siena Saturday. Tip-off is scheduled for 2PM at the KAC.

Chris Manhertz (Courtesy of Canisius athletics)

By Paul Casey Gotham

BUFFALO, NY — The South Dakota Coyotes entered play Thursday night averaging slightly more than five three-pointers per game. The Coyotes reached their average – before the final media timeout of the first half.

Louie Krogman led South Dakota with 18 points and nine assists as the Coyotes went into the Koessler Athletic Center and defeated the Canisius Golden Griffins, 67-55 in non-conference action, Thursday.

On a night where the Griffins had more questions than answers, Krogman led an aerial attack that saw the Coyotes double their season output from long range.

The teams measured each other carefully sparring for the first twenty with the Coyotes landing an upper cut to close the half.

Harold Washington paced the Golden Griffins early. The junior guard grabbed a loose ball and finished in the lane to start the scoring. Two trips later, he grabbed his own miss and scored at the rim. But by the time, Washington hit a runner in the lane the Griffs trailed 7-6.

The Coyotes stretched their lead to six at 18-12 when Louie Krogman nailed his second three of the night.

Washington responded with a baseline drive from the left and a hammer dunk.

Chris Manhertz made it a two-point game at 18-16 with a drop step into the middle of the lane and a left-handed baby hook.

Alshwan Hymes displayed his own long-range arsenal nailing three straight treys.

Washington found Hymes open on the left side for the first trifecta. Reggie Groves penetrated the lane and kicked to Hymes for the second. Hymes created his own shot with a pull up jumper.

But the Griffs still trailed 26-25. Any possible momentum from the surge was lost when Krogman connected on a pull up three in the final seconds of the half.

“One of the things that had been plaguing us were turnovers,” Canisius head coach Tom Parrotta said. “I said 12 was the number. They weren’t a team that forces a lot of turnovers, but we kept it at 10.  We got good shots early, but we didn’t knock them down. They got separation by making shots , and I think that zapped our energy.”

The Coyotes’ lead grew to 15 early in the second half when Allen Saint-Gelais grabbed a defensive rebound  and went end-to-end for a layup.

The Blue and Gold responded.

Hymes connected again behind the arc. Washington knifed through the lane and drew contact finishing a pair at the free throw line.  David Sanitago stole an inbound pass and led Hymes into the open floor for a layup. One possession later, Santiago grabbed a loose ball in the lane and scored to make it 50-44.

But that was as close as the Griffs would get.

Canisius played the game without starting point Gaby Belardo who is still sidelined with an injured back.

“We’re not one to make excuses,” Parrotta explained. “But I thought we were a little undermanned tonight. Gaby really hurts not being in there. He’s a guy that can stretch defenses and get into the lane and make shots.”

While Canisius outrebounded South Dakota 35-33 including a 15-6 advantage on the offensive glass, the Griffs only scored seven second-chance points to four for the Coyotes.

Hymes led the Blue and Gold with 18 points. Washington added 16. Manhertz grabbed a game-high ten rebounds.

Krogman finished one assist and two rebounds shy of a triple-double.

The Griffs fall to 1-6 with the loss. Canisius plays their next three on the road starting with a Big 4 tilt Saturday night at St. Bonaventure.

Fr. Dugan (Courtesy of Canisius athletics)

The final installment of the series comes from the MAAC as it is time to look at the Canisius Golden Griffins.

The Griffs ended their season a year ago with a 79-64 loss to Rider in the MAAC quarter-finals. With the loss the celebrated class of Julius Coles, Elton Frazier, Robert Goldsberry, Greg Logins and Tomas Vazquez-Simmons graduated.

Tom Parrotta and his staff hit the bricks to bring in a new class of freshmen: Kevin Bleeker, Tyler Funk, Josiah Heath and Frank Milian along with transfers – Jordan Heath and Harold Washington. Sean Ezeamama joined the Griffs as a walk on. Fred Asprilla and Isaac Sosa will practice with the team for a season before gaining their eligibility.

Kevin Bleeker 6’10″ 225lbs. C Alkmaar, Netherlands — BV Noordkop

Comes to Canisius after playing for BV Noordkop in the Netherlands…was a member of the Netherlands team at the 2011 U18 European Championship in Bulgaria…scored eight points to go with eight rebounds and three blocks in the team’s win over Romania...also played in the 16th annual Holland Nordic Basketball Tournament in April 2011.

Tyler Funk 6’7″ 220lbs. F Clarence, NY — Clarence

Played varsity basketball at Clarence High School…averaged better than 21 points per game in his senior campaign for the Red Devils…scored a game-high 30 points in his high school finale against Jamestown…was named an All-ECIC Second-Team choice and to the All-Buffalo Sports Daily High School Basketball Team after the 2010-11 season…helped lead Clarence to the Class AA title in 2009-10 with a buzzer-beating basket against Orchard Park…also played soccer at Clarence High honored as an all-league and all-area selection as well.

What they’re saying about Funk — Mike Blackwell Asst. Coach SUNY Geneseo: “”He runs the floor well. He’s got good hands with good agility. I saw him play at several AAU showcases. He held his own against some very good players. He’s got  a nice mix. I would call him a 3-4 player. He can step out 15-17′ with a decent back-to-the basket game. He stepped out to 17 feet, and you had to guard him. He has good springs and can be a good help-side defender.”

Josiah Heath 6’9″ 230lbs. F Irondequoit, NY — Irondequoit

Won two varsity letters Irondequoit High School…averaged 21.7 points, 16.6 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game in his senior season…was honored as the Greater Rochester (N.Y.) Player of the Year by the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle…in the 2010-11 postseason, he was good for 24 points and 22 rebounds per game…helped lead the Eagles to the school’s first Section V championship in 66 years…against Greece-Athena High in the sectional championship game, he had a double-double with 27 points and 27 rebounds…was honored as the Section V Championship MVP after that effort.

What they’re saying about Heath — Mike Blackwell Asst. Coach SUNY Geneseo: “He is a big, thick, strong kid with athleticism.  He makes people think about coming in the lane. If you gt around a perimeter defender, than you stare at him. He is a presence in the lane, but will not wander far from the basket. Like a lot of kids you recruit, he is long on potential. He doesn’t ahve a signature post move, but he can score.  He is prepared for the physical challenges of division one basketball.”

Franklin Milian 6’4″ 215lbs. G La Vega, Dominican Republic — Our Savior New American

Led the Our Savior New American team in scoring and rebounding during the 2010-11 season…averaged 18 points and 8.0 rebounds per game…played at the same high school that produced teammate Marial Dhal.

Jordan Heath 6’10″ 225lbs. Irondequoit, NY — Roberts Wesleyan College

• Must sit out the 2011-12 season in accordance with NCAA transfer rules…joins the Canisius program after playing two years at Roberts Wesleyan College (NAIA)…will have two seasons of eligibility remaining, starting in 2012-13.

Led Roberts Wesleyan to the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Final Four…led the team with 14.7 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game…named to the NCCAA All-Tournament Team following his double-double effort of 24 points and 10 boards in the regional championship win over Hope International College (March 18)…also named to the NCCAA East Region Second-Team and the American Mideast Conference Second-Team…scored 15 points to go with six rebounds in Roberts’ 72-63 win over No. 1 ranked Walsh (Feb. 13)…was the team’s leading scorer in 2009-10, where he posted 13.0 points per game…averaged 6.4 rebounds per game as a freshman for the Raiders and ranked second on the team in blocked shots…named to the 2009-10 American Mideast Conference All-Rookie Team…played at Irondequoit High School, where he averaged 19 points, 10 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game in his senior year…named the 2008-09 Monroe County Division II Player of the Year…also honored to the Greater Rochester (N.Y.) First-Team by the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle…was an  all-county first-team choice in his junior and senior seasons.

Harold Washington 6’1″ 175lbs. G Brandywine MD. — Gwynn Park/Cecil College

Joins the Canisius program after playing the last two years at Cecil College…is eligible for action in 2011-12...played two seasons at Cecil College in North East, Md…averaged 13 points, 6.2 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.9 steals per game in 2010-11…shot 49 percent from the field and 34 percent from 3-point range last season…in 2009-10, he helped guide the Seahawks to a sixth-place finish at the NJCAA National Tournament…was named a Junior College Division II Frist-Team All-American in his first year at Cecil…as a senior at Gwynn Park in Maryland in 2007-08, he averaged 18.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game while helping lead the team to a 25-2 overall mark.

Freddy Asprilla 6’10″ 280lbs. F Villavicencia, Colombia — Patterson School/Kansas State

Must sit out the 2011-12 season in accordance with NCAA transfer rules…joins the Canisius program after playing at Kansas State in 2010-11.

2010-11 • Junior Year
Played in 16 games and made 13 starts for the Kansas State Wildcats…averaged 4.9 points, 4.9 rebounds and 0.4 blocks per game…scored a season-high 17 points in a win over Emporia State (Nov. 29)…was credited with a season best nine rebounds against Alcorn State at home (Dec. 6)…finished the year with 42 of his 79 total rebounds coming off the offensive glass…shot 50.0 percent from the field (33-for-66) and made a season-high eight field goals against Emporia State…had two blocks in six different contests…made his first career start in a Kansas State uniform Nov. 12 against James Madison…averaged 16.3 minutes per game.

2009-10 • Junior College
Transferred initially to Miami Dade College in Miami, Fla., where he played in five games…eventually transferred to Cloud County Community College in Concordia, Kan., and opted to just take classes…rated as the No. 2 propect in the junior college ranks by JucoJunction.com.

2008-09 • Freshman Year
Played one season at Florida International in Miami, Fla…helped the Golden Panthers to a 13-20 overall record and a 7-11 mark in Sun Belt Conference play…the team finished in fifth place in the East Division and lost in the quarterfinal round of the 2009 Sun Belt Tournament to top-seeded Western Kentucky…named the 2009 Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year…also earned third team All-Sun Belt Conference honors…saw action in 23 games, where he made 14 starts…missed seven games midway through the season with a back injury…averaged 13.7 points, 9.2 rebounds, 0.7 assists and 0.7 blocks per game…shot a team-best 53.2 percent (126-for-237) from the field and 45.1 percent (62-for-142) from the free-throw line…led the Sun Belt with 12 double-doubles, including eight in conference games…scored in all 23 games played and posted double digits in the scoring column 18 times…posted four 20-point games, including back-to-back games against Western Kentucky (Jan. and Middle Tennessee State (Jan. 10)…scored a career-high 28 points in the game against Middle Tennessee State…led the team in rebounding in 21 of 23 games played…averaged a double-double in league play with 17.3 points and 11.4 rebounds per game.

High School
A one-year starter and letterwinner at The Patterson School in Lenoir, N.C…helped the Bulldogs to a 36-4 overall record and a No. 3 national prep school ranking in 2006-07…that team advanced to the inaugural Prep School National Championship, where it lost in the semifinal round to eventual national champion Notre Dame (Mass.) Prep…was a teammate of Jamar Samuels (Kansas State) and Dominique Sutton (North Carolina Central)…played for head coach Chris Chaney.

Isaac Sosa 6’3″ 180lbs. G Guaynabo, Puerto Rico — Grandview Prep/ Central Florida

Must sit out the 2011-12 season after transferring from Central Florida…left the Golden Knights’ program ranked fourth in career 3-point field goals with 190…played in 96 career games at Central Florida, where he averaged 8.8 points per game for his career.

Before Canisius
Won three varsity letters at Central Florida, a member of Conference USA…made a total of 37 starts, with a career-high 15 starts coming in 2010-11…averaged 8.0 points and 1.8 rebounds per game in 2010-11, which ranked third on the team…shot 39.2 percent from 3-point land in 2010-11, which ranked sixth in Conference USA…scored a season-high 23 points at Stetson (Nov. 23) after he went 6-for-11 from behind the arc…was named to the Conference USA All-Academic Team three times…led the 2009-10 Central Florida team with his 10.3 points per game scoring average…also led Conference USA in 3-point field goal percent in 2009-10 after he shot 42.7 percent (73-for-171) from long range…scored a career-high 26 points in the Golden Knights’ win over UMass (Nov. 13)…went 6-for-7 from 3-point range in that game against UMass – ended his time at Central Florida with six 3-pointers in a game on four different occasions…as a freshman in 2008-09, he averaged 8.2 points per game in 31 contests…shot 45.2 percent (57-for-126) from behind the arc as a rookie for the Golden Knights…posted 18 points against North Carolina A&T (Nov. 16) in his first college game…after his freshman season, he helped Puerto Rico to a sixth-place finish at the 2009 FIBA U19 World Championships in New Zealand.

High School
Received Florida Class 1A All-State First Team honors as a senior at Grandview Prep…averaged 19.5 points, 6.5 assists and 6.0 rebounds in his senior season…named the South Florida Sun-Sentinel 3A-2A-1A Player of the Year and the Palm Beach Post Small School Player of the Year honors as well…helped lead Grandview Prep to the state final and a 28-2 record…shot 52 percent overall and knocked down 62 3-pointers in his high school career…averaged 13.8 points per game for Puerto Rico at the 2008 FIBA Americas U18 Championships in Argentina…was a member of the Puerto Rico team at the 2007 Centrobasket U17 Tournament…posted 11.8 points per game in that event, helping the host Puerto Rico team go 5-0.

Sean Ezeamama 6’2″ 210 G Providence, RI — Notre Dame Prep

Joined the 2011-12 team during preseason workouts as a walk-on...played his postgrad year of hoops at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla…earned his PG degree from Notre Dame Prep in Fitchburg, Mass…averaged 12.5 points per game at IMG Academy…scored a career-high 22 points against Miami-Dade Junior College…also played football in high school at Spanish River in Boca Raton, Fla.

Photos and biographical material courtesy of gogriffs.com.

Robert Goldsberry courtesy of Canisius athletics

By Paul Casey Gotham

BOSTON, MA. — Friday night can’t come soon enough for the Canisius Golden Griffins. After making a surge up the Metro-Atlantic Athletic Conference standings winning four in a row at the Koessler Athletic Center, the Griffs return home losers of three in a row on the road.

John Holland scored 28 and Darryl Partin added 20 as the Boston University Terriers defeated the Canisius Golden Griffins 70-62 in an ESPN Bracketbusters game at Agganis Arena.

The Terriers shot 50 percent from the field in the second half to rally from a three-point deficit at the break.

“They made some really, really tough shots,” Canisius head coach Tom Parrotta said. “I thought we defended them pretty well. We changed defenses very effectively. They just really got good players.”

After scoring just five points in the first half, Holland, Boston’s leading scorer, connected on six of a eleven shots after the break including three from behind the arc.

“The Holland kid is an exceptional, exceptional player,” Parrotta added. “I don’t know that he got a lot of open looks. He’s just so big that he shot over the top of us. If you’re not up into him immediately, and you don’t have a high hand, he shoots right over top of you.  That kid has a wonderful feel for the game.”

The Blue and Gold closed out the first twenty minutes on an 18-6 run taking a 32-29 lead at half. The Griffs limited Boston U. to just one field goal in the last eight minutes of the first stanza.

“The switching defenses really hurt them,” Parrotta noted. “We were able to keep them off-balance, and we were able to get some good things off that.”

Gaby Belardo started the first-half run with a three. Tomas-Vazquez-Simmons chased down an offensive rebound and alertly kicked the ball to Belardo at the top of the key who squared and hit.

One possession later, Alshwan Hymes drove the paint, drew contact and converted both of the ensuing free throws.

Robert Goldsberry found Julius Coles open in the corner, and the Griffs climbed to within six at 25-19.

Elton Frazier hit a pair of free throws to make it a 25-21 game.

Greg Logins gave the Griffs the lead connecting on back-to-back attempts from behind the arc. Both times, Goldsberry set up his teammate on the perimeter.

Frazier hit two more from the charity stripe before Logins found the mark again.

This time, Reggie Groves drove the baseline along the right side, picked up his dribble and falling out-of-bounds threaded a pass to Logins on the opposite side of the floor for the trey.

But the Terriers came out of the locker room intent on grabbing the momentum.

“Ultimately, when they needed someone to step up and make a shot, they did,” Parrotta said. “They worked for them, but they made tough shots.”

Frazier led the way for the Griffs with 16 points and eight rebounds as Canisius won the battle of the boards 32-31.

Logins chipped in with 13 and Belardo had 12 to go with four assists.

Coles, Goldsberry and Groves had three helpers apiece.

Goldsberry scored eight points in 25 minutes of play-both highs coming off his injury back on January 28th.

“It’s good to see him back to his old self,” Parrotta said. “I think this is the first game that he actually felt that he had his legs underneath him, and he was like the Robert of old. But, you know what, you miss that. It’s been a few weeks now that he hasn’t been out there, and when he is out there, it makes an unbelievable difference. We had to have a shift in roles when he was out. Robert not being out there and doing those little things probably threw us for a curve.”

Goldsberry injured his head diving for a loose ball in the Niagara game.

Canisius falls to 13-14 overall. The Griffs lost at Niagara on Wednesday and at Loyola last Sunday.

With their sixth win a row, Boston University improves to 16-13.

The Griffs come home to finish their regular season at the Koessler Athletic Center hosting Manhattan on Friday and Loyola on Sunday. Canisius sits in a sixth-place tie with the Siena Saints. The top six teams in the conference receive first-round bye in the upcoming MAAC tournament.

Logins finishing two of his 30 points on the afternoon.

By Paul Casey Gotham

It is that time again. Let’s hear from you readers. We had another week of stellar performances. Pick the ONE (1), UNE, UNO from January 17-23rd that stands out to you, and tell us a story.

Greg Logins gets my POTW.

Facing the Metro-Atlantic-Athletic-Conference-leading Iona Gaels with one of the premier power forwards in the country, Greg Logins turned in a career performance.

The senior forward scored 30 points and led the Canisius Golden Griffins to a 75-73 triumph in MAAC action, Sunday.

Logins had 22 second-half points hitting 8 of 10 from the field including four from behind the arc as Canisius rallied from a four-point half-time deficit.

From the inside and the outside, Logins opened the second stanza scoring the Griffs’ first seven forcing the Gaels out of their 2-3 zone and into half court man-to-man pressure. Logins knocked down a foul line jumper on the first possession of the half a and then followed with a three in transition. One possession later, Logins won the battle for a loose ball in the paint and finished off the glass.

Iona switched defensive pressure. It didn’t matter.

With Iona’s Michael Glover in full pursuit, Logins continued his torrid pace nailing two more from long range before going into the post, sealing Glover and finishing off a lob into the paint.

Earlier this season, Logins became the 30th member of the Canisius 1,00o point club. Logins now has 1,122 career points. The senior from Sodus, New York ranks sixth in Golden Griffin history with 684 rebounds.

Who gets your POTW?

By Paul Casey Gotham

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Scott Machado stood at the top of the key shaking his head. To his left, Jermel Jenkins extended his arms in a gesture of disbelief. Under the basket, Mike Glover was doubled over clutching his shorts.

Not exactly the picture one would expect from a first-place team in the final moments of a conference game.

Gaby Belardo finished a pair of lay ups late, Greg Logins netted a career-high 30 points and a relentless Golden Griffin defense led to a 75-73 victory over the Iona Gaels in Metro-Atlantic Athletic Conference action at the Koessler Athletic Center, Sunday.

Logins paced Canisius with 22 second-half points. The senior forward hit 8 of 10 from the field including four from behind the arc as Canisius rebounded from a four-point halftime deficit.

“This kid just went ballistic,” said Canisius coach Tom Parrotta motioning to Logins. “It was like a heavyweight fight. He couldn’t breathe. He was cramping. He was on the sidelines. He went in and did what he had to do.”

From the inside and the outside, Logins opened the second stanza scoring Griffs’ first seven. Robert Goldsberry hit Logins at the foul line, and the Sodus, New York native caught and shot. On the next trip, Goldsberry found Logins in transition and the 6’7″ forward connected from behind the arc on the left side.

Elton Frazier missed a pull-up jumper, and the Griff front court took turns keeping the ball alive in a scramble before Logins secured it and finished over the outstretched arms of an Iona defender.

After employing a 1-2-2 three-quarter court press back to a 2-3 zone, Iona switched to man-to-man early in the half, and Glover drew the assignment of chasing Logins.

Logins connected twice from long range then he went into the post and sealed Glover, and Julius Coles delivered a lob for 66-63 lead with 2:33 remaining.

“He can go on tears,” Parrotta said of Logins. “And what an opportune time to go on a tear. He was clearly, clearly on fire, and the guys got him the basketball. It’s a nice luxury to move him around the perimeter because most people say ‘get him inside, get him inside, get him inside,’ but he’s six-for-seven from three. That’s a wonderful luxury to have.”

“He made everything he threw up,” Iona coach, Tim Cluess said of Logins. He made almost every single shot where he was open on.”

With the shot clock running down, Coles crossed over from the top of the key and finished with a lay up from the right side, and Canisius led 68-63.

Machado answered with a jumper at the other end. Jenkins got a steal and led Machado for a lay up, and the Griffs led by one.

Iona called a timeout with 45 seconds remaining to set up a full-court press. Canisius put four players across foul-line extended. Frazier cut to the ball while Belardo released. Instinctively, Frazier sent a pass ahead that Belardo gathered in and finished.

Iona was not done.

Machado broke free for a lay up, but Coles blocked the attempt. Frazier grabbed the rebound and was quickly fouled. The senior forward hit both free throws for a five-point lead.

Sean Armand responded for the Gaels with a three.

Iona pressed again, and, again, Belardo broke free. This time, Coles fed the Canisius point guard into the open for the basket.

“We didn’t have a timeout,” Parrotta noted. “These guys (Coles and Belardo) had the presence of mind.

Machado came into the game leading the nation with 8.1 assists per game, and Glover averaging 20 points and 10.8 rebounds. Machado dished out 11 assists, and Glover had 39 points and 14 rebounds when the Gaels defeated Griffs 94-85 earlier this season. On Sunday, the Iona point guard finished with five assists and three turnovers. Glover scored 11 points.

“We obviously watched what he (Glover) did to us the first time,” Parrotta explained. “We thought we had the personnel to go one-on-one with him because we were very, very concerned with Machado the first time, that is, getting into the lane and finding those three point shooters.  They’re fanstastic. We said we’ll stay closed on the people on the perimeter, and try to keep Machado in front of us and try to jab at him to force him to finish over the top. He is more comfortable dishing. That’s why he leads the nation in assists.”

Glover finished 4-of-11 from the field – his worst shooting performance of the season to date.

“We never left him (Glover),” Parrotta said. ” Elton was never in help. He stay connected to him. That cuts down his aggressiveness for alley oops, drop-off passes and offensive rebounds.”

Logins is the first Griffin to score 30 points in a game since Corey Herring scored 32 against Fairfield on 1/29/06. His 22 points in the second stanza was the most points in a half since Chcuk Harris poured in 20 versus Marist 12/8/06.

Coles, Frazier and Goldsberry all accounted for five assists apiece. Canisius blocked a total of nine shots with Tomas Vazquez-Simmons rejecting three. The senior now has 259 career blocks.

Coles scored 12 with Frazier and Belardo each accounting for 11.

The win was a reversal of fortunes for a Canisius team that has dropped three consecutive single-digit games. Canisius lost to Rider at the buzzer 77-76 on January ninth. Eight days later, the Griffs fell 73-69 to Siena at the Times-Union Center. Fairfield downed the Griffs by seven on Friday.

With the win, Canisius improves to 3-6 in the MAAC and 9-10 overall. Iona falls to 7-2 and 13-7.

The Gaels will host Rider, Friday. Niagara visits the KAC for a 7 p.m. tip off.

Julius Coles battles Derek Needham for rebounding position. Photo by Fr. J. Bucki

By Paul Casey Gotham

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Tom Parrotta and the Canisius Golden Griffins know all too well the discomforts that come with the quest for self-awareness.

In the past twelve days, Parrotta and his Golden Griffins have had the chance to learn how they measure up with the top of the Metro-Atlantic Athletic Conference. After three close losses the Griffs know what is within their reach.

Derek Needham scored a game-high 19 points, and the Fairfield Stags won the war on the boards defeating the Griffs 67-60 in MAAC action Friday night at the Koessler Athletic Center.

Chris Manhertz gave the Griffs a 47-44 edge with 11:37 remaining. The freshman took a pass from Alshwan Hymes and muscled through Fairfield’s Ryan Olander and Keith Matthews. After trailing for much of the first half, the Griffs looked poised to knock off the first-place Stags. The Blue and Gold had sustained an early surge, and Hymes exposed the Fairfield defense with his drive into the paint and dish to Manhertz.

The Stags responded with a 12-0 run over the next nine minutes.

“We got good shots around the basket. Just couldn’t get one to fall,” Parrotta commented. “I thought our defense was good at the other end. They didn’t score either. I think their first point in that stretch was a free throw. The one stat that we talked about over and over again is the rebounding. We gave up 18 offensive rebounds and got out-rebounded on the whole by 15, and you lose to the first-place team by seven.”

Fairfield used the advantage on the boards to score seven second-chance points in the first half to none for the Griffs. Canisius responded after the break with a 15-4 edge in second opportunities. But the Stags’ tenacity on the offensive glass resulted in a 15-11 difference at the free throw line.

“You can’t give a team 18 offensive rebounds. It’s totally unacceptable.”

Despite the drought, the Griffs made a late charge.

Tomas Vazaquez-Simmons rebounded his own miss for two of his nine points and Canisius trailed 56-49.

Needham stretched the lead with his fourth three of the night. Vazquez-Simmons grabbed another offensive rebound and was fouled in the process hitting his two from the charity stripe.

Trailing late, the Griffs were forced to foul, and the teams exchanged points for the next forty seconds.

Needham knocked down a pair from the charity stripe. Hymes responded with a lay up. Olander hit two from the line. Gaby Belardo broke free and tipped in a Hymes miss from behind the arc.

Then came a pair of misses by Needham. Vazquez-Simmons corralled the board. Belardo got in the lane, but his shot rimmed out. Again, Vazquez-Simmons was there for the rebound. This time he kicked it to Robert Goldsberry for the open three and Canisius trailed 63-58.

Full court pressure resulted in a turnover, and Canisius had a chance to make it a one-possession game, but the Fairfield defense was equal to the task.

“This has been the toughest opponent in the league that we’ve played,” Fairfield coach, Ed Cooley commented. “They’ve had some very close games in our league and just haven’t been fortunate to get over the hump in some of them,” Cooley noted of the Griffs’s recent loss at the buzzer to second-place Rider and the four-point defeat at reigning conference champ, Siena.  “This is a dangerous team, this Canisius team. Very-well coached. Physical as all giddy out.”

Needham staked the Stags to an early lead. The Bob Cousy Award list candidate nailed a trio of threes in the game’s first six minutes as Fairfeld jumped to an 11-to-5 lead.

Belardo paced the Griffs with 15, and Greg Logins added 12.

Fairfield’s Yorel Hawkins grabbed a game-high 10 boards to go with 11 points. Olander finished with 15 points and nine rebounds. Lyndon Jordan added 10 for the Stags.

Vazquez-Simmons led the Griffs with seven rebounds. Elton Frazier blocked three shots. Vazquez-Simmons had two rejections.

Canisius hosts Iona on Sunday. The Gaels come into the game tied with Fairfield atop the MAAC. Iona defeated the Griffs 94-85 in the conference opener for both teams.

Gaby Belardo

By Paul Casey Gotham

ALBANY, N.Y. — Gaby Belardo had a career-high performance, but it was not enough.

Ryan Rossiter registered his 45th career double-double as the Siena Saints avenged an earlier defeat with a 73-69 victory over Canisius Golden Griffins in Metro-Atlantic Athletic Conference action at the Times-Union Center.

Rossiter notched 28 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to pace the Saints. The 6’9″ senior deployed his full arsenal. He hit mid-range jumpers, baby hooks in the lane, lay ups assisted by penetrating teammates and rebound and put-backs. Rossiter scored 10 as the Saints jumped to 19-9 advantage ten minutes in to the contest.

The Saints scored a season-high 41 points in the first half and led by as many as 15.

Canisius never went away.

Reggie Groves made it 22-12 with a three from left foul-line extended. Robert Goldsberry found Alshwan Hymes in transition. Hymes drew the defense and returned the ball to Goldberry at the top of the key who ket the ball moving around the around to the open Groves.

Belardo made it 29-17 with five straight. The red-shirt sophomore got a steal on the defensive end and converted with a spin dribble and a finish from the right. One trip later, Belardo, left open, hit a trifecta from the right.

By the time Hymes hit a trey, the Griffs had a closed to 39-28 with a little over three minutes remaining in the half.

Clarence Jackson hit a pair of free throws for the Saints before the Griffs finished on a 6-0 run.

Goldsberry hit a pair of free throws. Chris Manhertz corralled a defensive rebound. Belardo hit a jumper. The next time down the floor, Manhertz blocked a Jackson lay up. Belardo scooped up  the ball and alertly looked ahead and found an open Julius Coles for the lay up.

Canisius had the ball two more times before the break but could not convert.

Belardo led the Griffs with 18 points in the second stanza as he traded jabs with Rossiter late in the game.

The Canisius point guard found Goldsberry open in transition for a three from the right corner. Siena 61. Canisius 58.

Rossiter hit a turn-around jump hook from outside the lane, and Siena led by five.

After a Jackson three, Belardo responded with one of his own.

Rossiter knocked down a baseline jumper, and the Saints led 68-61.

Tomas Vazquez-Simmons blocked a lay up attempt by Rakeem Brookins. Belardo grabbed the rebound and raced to the other end of the floor where he and Hymes perfectly executed a two-on-one break with Belardo finishing on the right.

After a media timeout, Belardo gave Canisius a 69-68 edge with a three from the top off a baseline out-of-bounds play.

But that was the last basket for Canisius.

Rossiter hit a pair from the charity stripe. Jackson broke free of the Griffs press for a dunk, and later hit the front end of a one-and one to cap the scoring.

Belardo finished with 29 on 12-of-20 shooting including four of nine from behind the arc. The native of San Juan, Puerto Rico added five assists, five rebounds, a steal and zero turnovers.

Vazquez-Simmons had five of Canisius’s ten blocks. The senior now has 254 all-time rejections.

Manhertz added three blocks and four rebounds. Coles chipped in 10 points and Greg Logins added nine.

Clarence Jackson had 15 for the Saints. It was the second game back for the senior after missing six games due to a high-ankle sprain. Coming into the contest, the Saints average 71 points with Jackson in the lineup and 63 without the Marlton, New Jersey native.

O.D. Anosike and Brookins had ten apiece.

Three Golden Griffins combined to hit a dozen shots from behind the arc as Canisius ended a five-year drought defeating the Siena Saints 62-61 at the Koessler Athletic Center ten days ago.

With the loss, Canisius falls to 2-5 in the MAAC and 8-9 overall.  Saturday, Elton Frazier scored 18 points and grabbed 6 rebounds as the Griffs trounced the Manhattan Jaspers 72-51.

Siena improves to 4-3 in the league and 7-10.

The Griffs host Fairfield on Friday and Iona for a Sunday matinee.

Alshwan Hymes

By Paul Casey Gotham

It is that time again. Let’s hear from you readers. We had another week of stellar performances. Pick the ONE (1), UNE, UNO that stands out to you, and tell us a story.

Alshwan Hymes gets my POTW.

Hymes set a new school record with nine 3-pointers and a career-high 28 points as the Canisius Golden Griffins exorcised the Northwestern State Demons 85-52 in non-conference action.

Hymes connected on four trifecta as the Griffs finished the first half on a 29-10 run.  Hymes stirred the Koessler Athletic Center.  Fans were cheering with the ball in flight for what would be his eighth and ninth trey of the contest.

The sophomore has hit 42.7 percent (32-75) from behind the arc and averages 9.8 per game.

Who gets your POTW?

By Paul Casey Gotham

BEAUMONT, Texas — The Canisius Golden Griffins stared an unflattering trend in the face. Entering play Tuesday night, the Griffs were 0-4 when trailing at the half. After taking an early 10-4 lead, the Griffs found themselves behind 32-30 going into the break.

It was time to put an end to the streak.

Tomas Vazques-Simmons and Alshwan Hymes led a second half comeback as the Canisius Golden Griffins defated the Lamar Cardinals in a non-conference match-up 78-72.

Vazques-Simmons and Hymes saved their production for latter stanza. The two contributed zero points before the horn and 22 points in the second frame.

Leading by three, Hymes connected on consecutive possessions – first with a jumper from the right side and then a 3 to pace the Griffs. Hymes picked off an errant pass at the other end of the floor, Elton Frazier followed with two of his 22 points. Two possessions later, Frazier fed Hymes. The sophomore nailed another trifecta, and Canisius had their largest lead of the game 61-51.

Vazques-Simmons brought the game home. The senior forward combined with Gaby Belardo on a pair of pretty pick and roll plays. First, Belardo led Vazques-Simmons for a lay up. On the ensuing possession, Frazier corralled a Belardo and slammed it home. Vazques-Simmons all but sealed the victory on the next play when he stepped back from a ball screen and knocked down a three-pointer to give the Griffs a 69-59 lead with four minutes remaining.

Vazques-Simmons finished with 14 points.

Frazier led the way with 22 points including a pair of clutch one-and-one free throws in the game’s final minute. It was the senior’s second 22-point performance in a row. Frazier has scored in double figures in each of Canisius’s last four games.

Julius Coles registered a career and game-high 12 rebounds. The Griffs controlled the glass 45-33.

Marial Dhal made his presence felt with just 10 minutes of playing time. The seven-footer from Uganda pulled down three rebounds and blocked two shots.  In a 20 second sequence Dhal rejected Vincenzo Nelson’s jumper, grabbed the rebound and kept the play going at the opposite with an offensive board. Belardo took advantage and hit a three-pointer.

Lamar came into the game leading the Southland Conference and ranked third in the country scoring 89 points per game. Mike James and Donley Minor came off the bench to lead the Cardinals with 13 and 12 points apiece.  Anthony Miles was a perfect 8-8 from the free throw line and also scored a dozen.

Canisius improves to 5-6 with the win.The Griffs ended a two-game skid. Canisius fell at Northwestern State Sunday evening 86-74 in a game where the Griffs were whistled for 31 personal fouls. Greg Logins scored 17 points before fouling out after 12 minutes of play. The senior became the 30th in program history to top the 1,000 point plateau.  The Griffs get a chance at payback when Northwestern State visits the Koessler Athletic Center on December 29th.