News Release

PURCHASE, N.Y. — Manhattanville’s John Danielski (Ansonia, Conn.) recorded a double-double with a game high 28 points and 10 rebounds as the Valiants downed Old Westbury 79-75 on Thursday.

Manhattanville senior center Farid Johnson (Yonkers, N.Y.) scored 24, while sophomore guard Dan DiMartino (Massapequa, N.Y.) chipped in with a season-high nine assists.

Manhattanville improves to 11-4 overall and is the only unbeaten team in the Skyline Conference at 7-0. The win is also the Valiants seventh straight at home and sixth consecutive win since Jan. 5.

Danielski had an interesting night of shooting. He shot 11-of-15 from the floor, but 4-for-14 at the foul line. Still, he had the two best shots of the evening.

The first came at the end of the first half when he chucked a 70-foot pass to Johnson with three seconds to go. Instead of reaching Johnson’s hands, it swished through the net to cut the Manhattanville halftime deficit to one at 40-39.

After Manhattanville Head Coach Dean Meminger called a timeout with the Valiants up 75-73 with 30 seconds to go, he set up a play for Danielski down in the post. Danielski got fouled while hitting a spinning hook shot with 24 seconds to play to give Manhattanville a 77-73 lead.

This was a close game throughout. After Manhattanville started the second half with a 15-6 run, Old Westbury clawed their way back to cut the Valiants lead to three at 71-68 with 2:18 to go. Johnson hit two jumpers to give Manhattanville a 74-68 lead.

But Old Westbury’s Sal Clark (New York, N.Y.) hit three lay-ups to cut the deficit to one. Manhattanville sophomore Eric Harris (Monroe, N.Y.) hit a free-throw go give the Valiants a two-point lead with 30 seconds to play. Harris scored six points and grabbed four rebounds.

That’s where Meminger’s coaching genius and Danielski’s shooting tough helped the Valiants take the win.

Old Westbury’s Chris Roberts (New York, N.Y.) and Michael Garrett (Brooklyn, N.Y.) each chipped in with 19 apiece. The Panthers’ record falls to 7-7 overall and 3-1 in the conference.

Valiants sophomore forward Mike Benziger (Sonoma, Calif.) scored 11 on 4-of-9 shooting and 3-for-7 from beyond the arc.

Manhattanville as a team shot 52 percent from the floor. However, the Valiants shot poorly from the foul line, converting only 11-of-25 shots.

"If we hit at least 80 percent of our foul shots, this is a much different game," Meminger said.

Still, it's impressive how Manhattanville continues to battle and overcome obstacles throughout the season.

Manhattanville’s next game will take place at Kennedy Gym in the opening round of the 2004 Castle Classic against Keystone College on Saturday starting at 2 p.m.