Box Score
Tournament Bracket
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) -- Dave Holmes scored 16 points and Manhattan held off a late Niagara surge in a 62-61 win Monday for the Jaspers' second straight NCAA tournament berth.
Luis Flores added 14 to become Manhattan's all-time leading scorer in helping the Jaspers win their second consecutive Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament championship.
Manhattan (24-5) earned its sixth NCAA tournament berth, while its 24 wins are third most in school history, and the most since going 26-5 in 1994-95.
The Jaspers won their third MAAC title and became the fifth team to win back-to-back championships in the tournament's 23-year history, the first since Iona won in 2000 and '01.
Juan Mendez scored 26 points for Niagara (21-9), which is 0-3 in MAAC championship games, and squandered an opportunity for the school's second NCAA tournament berth, and first since 1970. It was also Niagara's second loss to Manhattan in the championship game: The Jaspers beat the Purple Eagles 68-67 in 1993.
The Purple Eagles, determined to end their drought, rallied after being down 50-36 with nine minutes left.
His first 3-point shot blocked by Flores, Niagara freshman guard Lorenzo Miles got the ball back and hit a 3-pointer, cutting Manhattan's lead to 62-61 with 11.5 seconds remaining.
Flores, who hit 87.6 percent of his free throws during the season, missed two foul shots on Manhattan's next possession, giving the Purple Eagles one more chance with 10 seconds remaining.
Those hopes ended when Tremmell Darden slipped trying to find an opening. He sent up an awkward 18-footer that fell short and into Holmes' hands beneath the basket as the buzzer sounded.
Flores, chosen the tournament's MVP, passed Keith Bullock (1,992 points) when he hit his first of two free throws 8:27 into the game. He enters the postseason with 2,000 career points.
The night was additionally emotional for Niagara coach Joe Mihalich, who's 79-year-old mother, Dolores, was in attendance, making the trip from her home in Philadelphia. She was diagnosed with colon cancer last December, news the coach has kept mostly quiet so as not to distract his team.
Manhattan took the lead early and never trailed. Flores converted his own miss with an 8-foot jumper to put the Jaspers ahead 7-6 3:40 into the game.