Pickett scores career-high 33, ninth-seeded Manhattan beats Loyola 94-79 in MAAC opening round

Manhattan tops Loyola 94-79

ALBANY, N.Y. — Rico Pickett scored a career-high 33 points to lead ninth-seeded Manhattan past eighth-seeded Loyola (Md.) 94-79 in the opening round of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament on Friday night.

Darryl Crawford added 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Jaspers, who avenged a 71-59 loss to Loyola to close the regular season.

Shane Walker had 26 points for the Greyhounds (13-17), who also got 13 from Jamal Barney.

Brandon Adams had 14 for Manhattan (11-19), which advanced to face top-seeded Siena in Saturday’s quarterfinal round.

Loyola managed to whittle a 19-point deficit to 69-64 with 8 minutes left. But Pickett hit a layup and two free throws on a flagrant foul call with 4:40 remaining to increase Manhattan’s advantage.

Manhattan sprinted to a 17-4 lead and took a 51-36 edge into the break behind 23 first-half points from Pickett.