Sophomore Mike Benziger (Sonoma, Calif.) added a season-high 23 points as the win advances the Valiants to the semifinals of the Skyline Conference Tournament and is their third in a row.
Another dynamite duo helped Manhattanville advance in the tournament as senior John Danielski (Ansonia, Conn.) scored 13 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Sophomore guard Dan DiMartino (Massapequa, N.Y.) had 13 points to go with eight assists.
The first half of the game began as a back-and-forth affair. Manhattanville’s biggest lead was five, but the Valiants never let it slip away. One of the problems for the Valiants was Johnson picking up three fouls in the first eight minutes of the game.
Manhattanville’s bench stepped up their play and chipped in with productive minutes. Sophomore John Rahn (Monroe, N.Y.) scored all six of his points in the first half on 2-of-2 shooting from the floor and free throw line.
After going up 42-38 at halftime, the Valiants traded buckets with the Dolphins and fell behind 51-49 after a 3-pointer by Mount Saint Vincent sophomore James Mooney (Bronx, N.Y.).
Manhattanville responded with a 17-5 run midway through the half thanks to four lay-ups by Johnson and two 3-pointers by Benziger.
Mooney led Mount Saint Vincent with 20 and six rebounds, while junior Dan Bailey (Bronx, N.Y.) scored 16 points. For Mount Saint Vincent, it was their third game in four nights.
Manhattanville shot 45 percent from the floor and outrebounded the Dolphins 42-24 on the glass.
The Valiants dramatically improved their free throw shooting to ice the contest. Manhattanville shot just 50 percent from the charity stripe in the first half, but 70 percent in the second half. Johnson went 7-of-7 from the free throw line.
Manhattanville’s next game will be against the Mount Saint Mary Blue Knights at 7 p.m. on the road.