Trenton, NJ (March 9, 2003) - The Niagara men's basketball team lost to #1 seed Manhattan 82-81 in double overtime in the semifinal's of the MAAC Tournament. Niagara ends the season with a 17-12 record.

"People ask why you coach or why you play the game. This is why," said head coach Joe Mihalich. "It's games like this. This is the best sport, college basketball, in this great country of ours."

Juan Mendez and James Reaves each had the double-double. Mendez scored 31 points and grabbed 16 boards while Reaves netted 10 and grabbed 17 rebounds.

Mendez went 11-for-16 from the field, nine-for-nine from the free-throw line and had three steals in 47 minutes of play.

Niagara had a great day at the line going 85-percent. David Brooks hit six of his seven tries and Reaves made four-of-five.

Luis Flores led Manhattan in scoring with 30 points. Flores and Kenny Minor each went eight-for-10 from the line.

Niagara went into the half with a 31-30 lead. The two teams each scored 12 points from inside the paint. Mendez hit all six of his free-throw attempts on his way to 10 first half points.

Manhattan came alive in the second half scoring 15 points off Niagara turnovers. The lead changed eight different times in the second half.

Manhattan was holding a 63-60 lead when David Brooks hit a three-pointer to tie the game with just 1:29 left. Jare Johnson would give the Jaspers the lead again with just 59 ticks remaining. Manhattan's Kenny Minor would foul Brooks with a little over 30-seconds remaining. Brooks hit both free-throw shots to send the game into overtime.

In the first overtime session Manhattan quickly took a four point lead. Juan Mendez made two lay-ups to tie the game back up. Alvin Cruz fouled out with 47-seonds left in overtime. Minor made both shots from the line to give Manhattan the lead again. Mendez grabbed a rebound with 21-seconds left and put in the shot to send the game into the second overtime.

Niagara went up by two just seven seconds into the second overtime. Manhattan took the lead on a Mike Konovelchick three-pointer. Brooks again hit an important trey to tie the game at 78. Niagara then ran into foul trouble and Minor hit four shots from the line and it seemed the Jaspers had the game under control with an 82-78 lead.

Rhossi Carron made a three-pointer with just nine seconds left on the clock to bring Niagara within one.

Flores would turn the ball over and Carron took a shoot with less then a second left on the clock that missed.