Enjoy beating us while you can, says Masiello

It’s not every day when a coach on the losing end of a game hopes the opposing team enjoys its victory. But that’s where Manhattan coach Steve Masiello is these days as he tries to maneuver his depleted program through some early-season tumult brought on by injuries and a defection.

When his Jaspers arrived at Rose Hill Gym on Saturday night to take on Fordham in the 108th edition of the Battle of the Bronx, he did so with just six scholarship players — barely enough to field a starting five.

So it was no surprise, after hanging with the Rams for about 15 minutes, when the Jaspers ran out of gas and ended up on the short end of an 87-64 loss. Still, Masiello said “enjoy.”

“Let everyone enjoy this now because when we get healthy, I think it’ll be different,” he said. “Everyone should enjoy this now. We’ve been on a nice run [with back-to-back Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championships] the last couple of years in the metropolitan area, so everyone should enjoy beating us right now.

“If it was the other way around, I’d enjoy it and I would take it to a team. I’m not looking for any mercy or pity. What I am going to say, though, is when we get our nine or 10 [players back], I think we’ll be the Manhattan that we’re supposed to be. That’s something I’m confident in.”

Injuries have left the Jaspers with paper-thin depth and little room for error — or rest — and it was evident almost from the start on Saturday. Knowing the Jaspers were without four frontcourt players due to injuries to Calvin Crawford, Sammy Akilo and Ak Ojo and Jermaine Lawrence, who left the program, Fordham’s plan was to pound the ball inside to its big man Ryan Rhoomes. The plan worked flawlessly as the 6-foot-8-inch Rhoomes scored 20 points and pulled down 10 rebounds while recording six blocks on the defensive end. When Manhattan tried to concentrate its efforts on stopping Rhoomes, senior guard Mandell Thomas took over the scoring load as he finished with a game-high 26 points to earn most valuable player honors in the annual event.

It came down to a case of pick your poison for the Jaspers.