HAMDEN, Conn. (Interstat) — In a wild, back-and-forth Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference clash that required overtime to decide, Asim Jones erupted for a career-high 30 points to lead Quinnipiac to a 98-92 victory over Manhattan on Monday afternoon at TD Bank Sports Center.

The game, a rematch of a Jan. 2 contest won by Manhattan by a single point, lived up to its billing as a tense affair between two teams familiar with close finishes. This time, the Bobcats (13-7, 4-3 MAAC) managed to hold off a relentless Jasper squad (8-13, 3-4) in the extra session before a crowd of 1,731.

Jones, a junior guard from Paterson, New Jersey, was the catalyst throughout, adding five rebounds and five assists to his scoring total in 42 minutes. His performance was a stark contrast to his recent outings, where he had averaged 12 points over his last three games. He spearheaded a Quinnipiac offense that needed every bit of his production to counter a brilliant backcourt display from Manhattan.

The Jaspers were led by the dynamic guard duo of Devin Dinkins and Jaden Winston. Dinkins, from Washington, D.C., scored 25 points and dished out four assists, while Winston, of South Laurel, Maryland, added 20 points and five rebounds. Anthony Isaac, a forward from Brooklyn, New York, posted a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds.

The contest was tightly contested from the opening tip. Quinnipiac took a narrow 38-37 lead into halftime, but Manhattan surged at the start of the second half. A flurry of three-pointers, including two from Dinkins and one from Winston, propelled the Jaspers to a brief lead, setting the stage for a half defined by runs.

Neither team could build a substantial advantage. Quinnipiac’s Grant Randall, who finished with 14 points and eight rebounds, and Jaden Zimmerman, who had 17 points and seven assists, provided crucial support for Jones. Manhattan’s Fraser Roxburgh, from Melbourne, Australia, chipped in 12 points and four rebounds, and Terrance Jones added 14 points.

The most critical sequence of regulation came in the final minute. With Quinnipiac leading 79-77, Manhattan’s Devin Dinkins drove for a layup with 16 seconds remaining to tie the game. On the ensuing possession, Quinnipiac’s Amarri Monroe was fouled with six seconds left but could only make one of two free throws, leaving the door open. Dinkins then raced downcourt and hit a driving layup as time expired in regulation, sending the game to overtime knotted at 80-80.

In overtime, Asim Jones took over. He scored seven of Quinnipiac’s 18 points in the extra period, including a driving layup and several clutch free throws. The Bobcats opened the overtime on a 7-2 run, fueled by a three-pointer from Monroe and a tip-in from Randall, and never relinquished the lead. Manhattan, which scored 12 points in overtime, got within 94-92 on a layup by Quron Elliott with eight seconds left, but Quinnipiac sealed the game at the free-throw line.

Keith McKnight contributed a double-double for Quinnipiac with 11 points and 12 rebounds, while Amarri Monroe had 13 points and seven boards.

The combined final score of 190 points sailed over the pregame over/under line of 153.5, highlighting the offensive nature of the contest. Quinnipiac, which had been a 12.5-point favorite according to sportsbooks, narrowly covered the spread with the overtime-aided margin.

The win snapped a two-game losing skid for the Bobcats, who travel to face Mount Saint Mary’s on Thursday. Manhattan, which has lost three of its last four, looks to rebound Saturday at Iona.