By Steven M. Glassman

Director of Sports Information

March 7, 2022

PETERSBURG, VA—Bryant and Stratton College-Albany freshman point guard Charles Echols led both teams with 25 points as the fourth-seeded Bobcats defeated the fifth-seeded Manor College Blue Jays (10-6), 71-61, in the USCAA Men's Division I Basketball Small College National Tournament Quarterfinals at Virginia State University.

Both teams exchanged leads the first 8:45 of the first half.  The Bobcats took the lead for good (13-12) with 11:15 remaining the first half on a pair of Echols' free throws.  This began a 19-7 Bobcat run over the next 8:59 as they opened up its first (30-19) of two 11-point leads.  The run concluded with 2:16 left on freshman forward Amari Scott's layup.  Albany led 34-24 at halftime.  Echols led both teams with 10 first-half points. 

Manor chipped away at the double-digit halftime deficit in the second half. After freshman Daniel King's three-point basket (with an assist by junior guard Delphin Flowers) gave the Bobcats a 39-29 lead with 18:26 left in the second half, Blue Jays responded with a 13-4 run over the next 5:15 and closed with one point (43-42) with 13:11 remaining on sophomore forward Rahmaad Dejarnette's (Chester, PA/STEM Academy) layup.  Albany answered with a 9-1 run over next 3:30 and opened up a 52-43 lead with 9:41 remaining on freshman forward/center Denali Burton's layup.  The Blue Jays got within four points (52-48) on a sophomore guard Isaiah Leonard (Philadelphia, PA/Motivation) steal and layup with 7:47 left.  The Bobcats opened up a double-digit lead (61-50) on an Echols layup with 5:25 remaining and another (63-52) with 4:43 left on a freshman guard Trent McNeil layup.  Albany maintained a double-digit lead for the remainder of the game.  Both teams scored 37 points in the second half.  Echols led both teams with 15 points.  Leonard and Dejarnette scored 12 and 10 second-half points, respectively, for the Blue Jays.

Statistical Leaders: Leonard led Manor with 18 points, 12 rebounds, and three assists.  Dejarnette scored 16 points and contributed 10 rebounds.  Sophomore guard Malik Clark (Philadelphia, PA/Boys' Latin) added 10 points and paced both teams with four steals for the Blue Jays.

In addition to Echols, Scott scored 13 points and led both teams with 16 rebounds.  Burton added 10 points and 10 rebounds and paced both squads with five blocked shots.  Freshman center Shamar Mercharles came off the bench and contributed 10 rebounds for the Bobcats.

Manor 2021-2022 Single-Game Scoring Leaders (including ties): Leonard (5), freshman forward Enoch Clark (Clearwater, FL/Pinellas Park) (4), Dejarnette (4), and sophomore guard Eddie Fortescue Jr. (Blue Bell, PA/Wissahickon) (2).

Manor 2021-2022 Single-Game Rebounding Leaders (including ties): Dejarnette (9), Enoch Clark (5), Leonard (2), and sophomore forward Anthony Floyd (Philadelphia, PA/Engineering and Science) (1).

Manor 2021-2022 Single-Game Assists Leaders (including ties): Leonard (11), Malik Clark (4), Dejarnette (2), Floyd (2), Enoch Clark (1), freshman guard Shyere Mayhue (Philadelphia, PA/Power for People Charter) (1), and Ivane Mkleidze (1).

Manor 2021-2022 Single-Game Steals Leaders (including ties): Malik Clark (7), Dejarnette (6), Fortescue Jr. (4), Enoch Clark (2), and Leonard (2).

Manor 2021-2022 Double-Figure Scoring Leaders: Dejarnette (14), Leonard (12), Enoch Clark (9), Fortescue Jr. (7), Malik Clark (6), sophomore forward Manny Alvarez (Reading, PA/Governor Mifflin) (1), Floyd (1), and freshman guard Sam McFarlane (Abington, PA/Abington) (1).

Manor 2021-2022 20-Point Games Leaders: Dejarnette (6), Leonard (5), Enoch Clark (2), and Fortescue Jr. (1).

Manor 2021-2022 30-Point Games Leaders: Enoch Clark (3) and Dejarnette (1). 

Manor 2021-2022 Double-Figure Rebounding Leaders: Dejarnette (7), Enoch Clark (4), Leonard (2), and Floyd (1).

Manor 2021-2022 "Double-Double" (Points and Rebounds) Leaders: Dejarnette (6), Enoch Clark (4), and Leonard (2). 

Season Series: This was the first match-up between the two schools.

Manor in the Postseason (Since 1994-1995): The Blue Jays are 17-21 overall (5-15 at neutral sites) in 20 tournaments.  Manor have lost five straight postseason games.  The Blue Jays last won in the postseason on March 4, 2016, defeating Raritan Valley Community College, 87-73, in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region XIX Division II Postseason Tournament Semifinals at the County College of Morris in Randolph, New Jersey.

Next Game: Manor finishes the season, playing The Apprentice School Builders (13-15) in the USCAA Men's Division Basketball Small College Tournament Consolation Game 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, March 8 at Virginia State University in Petersburg.  The sixth-seeded Builders lost to the third-seeded Bryant and Stratton College-Buffalo Bobcats (23-7), 66-52, in the Quarterfinals at Richard Bland College in Petersburg.

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Twitter: @manorbluejays.

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