NEW YORK, N.Y. – The Manhattanville men's basketball team got its 2012-13 season off to a flying start in New York City, as the Valiants jumped on Hunter early and never let up in coasting to a 89-67 victory over the Hawks in both teams' season opener on Thursday night at the Hunter Sportsplex.

Five Valiants reached double figures in the win, led by junior Colin Campbell (Miami, Fla./LaSalle) with a game-high 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting and a team-leading four steals. Classmate Jack Bramswig (Pleasantville, N.Y./Pleasantville) had 14 points, five rebounds and a pair of blocks, while graduate student Craig Augustine (Citrus, Fla./Citrus) hit 6 of 7 shots to finish with 14 points to go with four rebounds and three assists.

Freshman Anthony Maestre (Bronx, N.Y./Mount St. Michael Academy) also reached double digits in his collegiate debut by netting 11 points, and sophomore Mike Murray (Queens, N.Y./St. Francis Prep) added 10 points off the bench as well for the visitors.

The Valiants shot the ball well all night long against the Hawk defense, finishing at 57.4 percent (35 for 61) from the field on the evening, while also performing well on the defensive end with 15 steals and forcing 22 turnovers.

Manhattanville came storming out of the gates on both ends of the court to start the season, shooting 67.9 percent (19 for 28) from the field and also forcing 11 Hunter turnovers over the first 20 minutes.

Campbell set the tone for the game right away, controlling the opening tip and driving to the hoop for an old-fashioned three-point play only four seconds into the game. Campbell also added two steals on Hunter's first three possessions, and as a result scored eight of the team's first 12 points as the visitors built up an early 12-4 lead.

Started by a Campbell three, an early 12-0 run gave the Valiants a 21-4 lead with only 4:34 gone by in the contest. The lead continued to grow throughout the frame, getting to 25 on both a pair of Bramswig free throws and a Campbell jumper late in the period before setting at 23 (46-23) at the break.

Manhattanville continued the intensity on the defensive end as well, recording eight steals and holding Hunter to an 0-for-8 showing from beyond the arc in the first half. Through 20 minutes, the Hawks shot just 33.3 percent (11 for 33) from the field.

At the break, Campbell had 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting to go with three steals in 14 minutes of action. Bramswig was 4 of 6 for 10 points after the first 20 minutes of play, while Augustine added seven points, two rebounds and two assists before halftime.

Manhattanville let up somewhat defensively in the second half, allowing Hunter to go on a 10-2 run early in the frame to get back within 16 points at 55-39 with 13:43 to go. But six straight Valiant points got the lead back up above 20 again, and the visitors never allowed the lead to shrink below 19 the rest of the way.

Manhattanville (1-0) will open up the home portion of its schedule on Saturday, as the Valiants host Hamilton for a 6 p.m. tipoff at Kennedy Gymnasium. The live GoValiants.TV video broadcast will begin at 5:50 p.m.