RIVERDALE, N.Y. – Presbyterian's Jonah Pierce recorded a double-double, and Jaylen Peterson scored a career-high 22 points, but the Presbyterian Blue Hose's (6-8) second half comeback fell short as the Blue Hose lost to the Manhattan Jaspers (5-8), 87-81, on the road on Sunday afternoon.

Pierce recorded a double-double with 21 points and 11 rebounds. Peterson led all scorers with 22 points while grabbing nine rebounds. Carl Parrish scored nine points and grabbed nine rebounds.

HOW IT HAPPENED
FIRST HALF – Pierce scored the game's first basket with a layup 15 seconds into the contest. Pierce would score 14 points in the half. After a dunk from Peterson and a three from Parrish, the Blue Hose took a 10-4 lead four and a half minutes into the game. Manhattan scored seven straight points, taking an 11-10 lead with 13:59 on the clock. For the next few minutes, the two teams exchanged baskets and the lead.  With PC leading 14-13, Manhattan went on another 7-0 run to take the first half lead for good. With Manhattan leading 26-19 with 8:45 on the clock, the Blue Hose scored five points after another inside score from Pierce and a step-back three from Josh Pickett, cutting the Jaspers' lead to 26-24. However, that would be as close as the Blue Hose would get to Manhattan the rest of the half, as the Jaspers had a 45-36 halftime lead.

SECOND HALF – Presbyterian went on a 15-4 scoring run to start the half to take a 51-49 lead after a layup from Peterson with 16:14 on the clock. Peterson scored eight points during the scoring run. Triston Wilson, Pickett, and Pierce also scored during the run. Presbyterian pushed its lead to four points a couple of times. After a three from the corner by Parrish gave the Blue Hose their final lead of the game, 64-61, at the 10:19 mark. Then, Manhattan scored eight straight points, regaining the lead for good.


INSIDE THE BOXSCORE

• Pierce's double-double was his fifth of the season and the eighth of his career.
• Peterson's career-high 22 points marked his first career 20-point scoring game.
• Parrish's nine rebounds tied his career-high, which he set last season against Manhattan.
• Pickett and Wilson both dished out career-high seven assists.

 
NEXT GAME
After the Christmas break, the Blue Hose are back in the Templeton Center for their final non-conference game against Truett McConnell next Sunday, December 28, at 4 p.m. The game is the Presbyterian's Faith and Family game.