By Steven M. Glassman
Director of Sports Information
January 14, 2017
By Steven M. Glassman
Director of Sports Information
January 14, 2017
JENKINTOWN, PA—Manor College (11-5 Overall, 4-4 NJCAA Region XIX Division II) sophomore guard Kuante Sargent (Baltimore, MD/Newtown) scored 22 points as they defeated the County College of Morris (5-11, 1-6), 98-72, for its six straight home win.
Freshman guard Kobe Ancum's (Bridgeport, CT/Bassick) three-point basket early in the first half gave the Blue Jays the lead for good (7-4). Manor then went on an 10-3 run that finished off by freshman guard Dequincy Reed (Philadelphia, PA/Father Judge) three-point basket with 14:44 remaining in the opening half (17-7). It was the Blue Jays' first double digit lead of the game. In nearly a two-minute stretch (9:45 to 7:47), Reed sank three more three-point baskets during a 10-0 run and Manor took its largest lead of the first half (36-20). After Reed made his fifth three-point basket in the first half with 3:12 left (43-30), the Titans scored six straight to close the gap to seven points (43-36). Morris freshman guard Lamont Williams sank a pair of technical foul free throws with 1:46 remaining and it was the closest the team got to Manor since Williams made a three-point basket with 16:51 left in the half (9-7). Defensively, Manor held Morris to two overall field goals made over the final 5:11 of the first half. The Blue Jays led 48-37 at halftime. Reed led both teams with 17 points and Titans freshman guard Damon Askew paced the team with nine.
Manor expanded its lead in the first 3:41 of the second half, going on an 18-3 run. Sophomore center Brendan Wagner (Allentown, PA/Allentown Central Catholic) scored half of Manor's points during this stretch. Wagner's layup and free throw on a broken play gave the Blue Jays its first 20-point lead of the game with 17:17 left. Manor would maintain a 20-point lead for the remainder of the contest. Sophomore forward Robby Pierre's (Irvington, NJ/Union Catholic) three-point basket gave the Blue Jays a 26-point lead (66-40) with 16:19 remaining in the second. Morris was held to two overall field goals made in the in the first 7:01 of the second half. The Titans got twice (60-40 with 17:17 and 70-50 with 11:27 left) to close the deficit to 20 points on freshman forward Ranell Bell's free throw and sophomore guard Quentin Pharis' layup, respectively. After Williams sank a three-point basket with 10:22 remaining, Defensively, Manor held Morris to two overall baskets for over an eight minute stretch. The Blue Jays continued to build on its lead, going on a 13-4 run over a 5:12 stretch (8:45 to 3:33), and took its first 30-point lead of the game on Sargent's three-point basket (90-58). Sargent's basket with 2:07 left gave Manor its largest lead of the game (94-61). Bell's three-point basket at the buzzer finished the scoring for the game. The Blue Jays outscored the Titans, 50-35, in the second half. Sargent led both teams with 15 points and Pharis paced the Titans with ten.
Sargent has scored in double-figures in 15 games and over 20 points in a game this season 13 times. Altogether, he has scored in double-figures 21 times in 28 career games. Coming off the bench, Reed scored a season-high 19 and Pierre added 11.
Morris had five players score in double-figures. Pharis led the Titans with 15 points. Bell added 13 and, coming off the bench, freshman forward Funot Woldentnsai contributed 12. Askew (also coming off the bench) and Williams scored 10 each.
The Blue Jays are 6-0 at home to start this season. Manor last won six straight to start the season at home during the 2007-2008 season when they were in the EPCC. The Blue Jays finished that season undefeated at home (11-0). They last won six straight at home between December 11, 2014 and February 7, 2015 and finished the season 12-2 at home.
Manor improves its series record to 10-7 overall and 6-3 at home versus the Titans. They have won five straight overall and six of the previous seven versus the Titans. Manor have won four straight home games versus Morris and five of the previous six.
The Blue Jays' next game is on the road at Mercer County Community College 7:00 p.m. January 19. Manor is 9-9 overall (3-6 on the road) versus the Mercer County, including three straight wins. The Blue Jays defeated the Vikings in its previous matchup at home, 86-72, on December 8, 2016.
Manor's next game at home is versus Region XIX Division III Community College of Philadelphia 7:00 p.m. January 26, 2017. The Blue Jays are 8-27 overall and 4-10 at home versus the Colonials since the 1994-1995 season (2001-2002 season unavailable). Manor lost on the road to the Community College of Philadelphia in its previous matchup, 83-80, on January 7, 2016. The Blue Jays defeated a then-nationally-ranked Colonials at home, 81-66, on December 11, 2014.