By Steven M. Glassman
Director of Sports Information
February 4, 2017
JENKINTOWN, PA—Manor College (16-5 Overall, 7-4 NJCAA Region XIX Division II) sophomores Kuante Sargent (guard) (Baltimore, MD/Newtown) and Jordan Lomax (forward) (Hartford, CT/Career Magnet) each scored 17 points as they defeated Raritan Valley Community College (13-7, 7-4), 63-61.
This is Manor's eighth straight overall, eighth consecutive home, and fifth straight Region XIX Division II win. They have won 13 of its last 14 games overall.
Raritan Valley got off to a strong start, opening up an 11-2 lead with 15:02 left in the opening half on freshman guard Kevin Saylor's layup. It was their biggest lead of the game. Manor answered by going on a 16-5 run and took its first lead of the contest, 18-16, on Sargent's jump shot with 5:39 remaining in the first half. Lion freshman guard Kenyan Goodson tied the game at 18 on a pair of free throws with 5:09 left. The Blue Jays countered again and went on a 10-2 run and opened up its largest lead (29-20) on Lomax' free throws with 0:16.6 left in the half. Sophomore forward Sam Pierre sank a three-point basket at the buzzer, but, Manor led 29-23 at halftime. Sargent led both teams with 15 points.
The Lions got off on a good start again in the second half, going on a 10-4 run and closed the gap to 33-32 on freshman forward Ron Washington's layup and free throw with 16:47 left in the second half. Raritan Valley got within one point six more times before sophomore guard Zaire Robinson tied the game at 54 on a free throw with 5:27 remaining. Robinson's jump shot with 4:48 remaining gave the Lions its first lead (56-54) since leading 16-14 in the first half. Manor freshman guard Benjamin Pratt (Allentown, PA/Allentown Central Catholic) tied the game at 56 on a hook shot with 3:53 left. It was the Blue Jays' first points and field goal made since sophomore guard Robby Pierre (Irvington, NJ/Union Catholic) sank a jump shot with 8:08 remaining. Both teams traded points until a Lomax free throw with 2:51 left gave the Manor a lead for good (59-58). Lomax made a layup on an assist by sophomore forward Brendan Wagner (Allentown, PA/Allentown Central Catholic) with 0:29.1 remaining. Pratt added a pair of free throws with 0:07.1 left. Pratt's free throw capped off a 9-2 run in a 3:46 stretch. However, Saylor's jump shot and free throw with 0:03.7 remaining closed the deficit to two (63-61). Robinson's three-point attempt at the buzzer missed. Defensively, the Blue Jays held the Lions to two field goals made in the final 3:10 of the game. Raritan Valley outscored Manor in the second half, 38-34. Saylor led both teams with 16 points in the second half and Lomax paced the Blue Jays with 14.
Sargent has scored in double-figures in all 21 games. Altogether, he has scored in double-figures 27 times in 29 career games. Lomax' 17 points is a career-high and registered his third "double-double" in points and rebounds this season (sixth career). This is his fourth straight game contributing 10 or rebounds in a game, and five of the previous six. Pierre came off the bench to contribute eight rebounds and two blocked shots.
Saylor led the Lions with 24 points. Robinson added 11 points and five assists. Washington paced Raritan Valley with nine rebounds.
The Blue Jays are 8-0 at home to start this season. Manor last won eight 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).
The Blue Jays are 9-10 overall and 5-4 at home (including four straight) versus the Lions. Manor has won seven of its last eight and eight of its previous ten overall matchups versus Raritan Valley.
The Blue Jays' next game is on the road at Region XX Division II Community College of Baltimore County-Dundalk (13-9) in Baltimore, Maryland 7:00 p.m. February 7. Dundalk is also member of the Maryland Junior College Athletic Conference. Manor is 0-2 overall versus Dundalk. The Blue Jays lost at home versus the Lions in its previous matchup at home, 81-79, in overtime, on February 18, 2016. This is the first time Manor is visiting Dundalk.
Manor's next game at home is versus Region XIX Division II Delaware Technical Community College-Stanton 7:00 p.m. February 9. The Blue Jays are 6-11 overall and 3-5 at home (including two straight) versus the Spirit. Manor has won the last four overall meetings. The Blue Jays won on the road at the Spirit in its previous matchup, 76-73, on November 10, 2016. Manor defeated Stanton at home, 86-78, on December 10, 2015.