By Steven M. Glassman
Director of Sports Information
February 11, 2017
JENKINTOWN, PA—Sophomore guard Kuante Sargent (Baltimore, MD/Newtown) sinks a layup at the buzzer as 18th-ranked Manor College (18-5 Overall, 8-4 NJCAA Region XIX Division II) upset second-ranked Essex County College (23-1, 12-1), 75-73. Sophomore forward Brendan Wagner (Allentown, PA/Allentown Central Catholic) led the Blue Jays with 18.
This is Manor's 10th straight overall, ninth consecutive home, and sixth straight Region XIX Division II win. They have won 15 of its last 16 games overall. This is the first time the Blue Jays won 10 straight overall since joining the NJCAA for the 2008-2009 season. They were EPCC members when they last won 10 straight overall between December 5, 2007 and February 9, 2008 when they won 15 consecutive games.
Manor opened up a 12-3, its largest lead of the game, with 13:41 left in the opening half after sophomore forward Jordan Lomax (Hartford, CT/Career Magnet) taps in a missed shot into the basket. Essex County answered with 21-2 run in the next 7:39 and took a 23-14 lead after sophomore guard Quadri Calloway sank a jump shot with 6:02 remaining in the first half. The Blue Jays responded with 9-2 run of its own and closed the deficit two (25-23 with 2:49 left) following a Sargent layup with an assist by sophomore guard Robby Pierre (Irvington, NJ/Union Catholic) off of a Wolverine turnover. Essex County answered again with an 11-2 run over the remaining 2:49 of the half. The Wolverines led at halftime, 36-25. Essex County freshman guard Juwan Jones led both team with 12 points.
The Blue Jays got within 39-32 after a Wagner layup off of a missed shot with 17:05 left in the second half. The Wolverines went a 9-2 run and opened up a 14-point edge (48-34) with 14:28 remaining after sophomore forward Ahmad Sherman made a three-point basket. Essex County took another 14-point lead (55-41) on a freshman center Thankgod Okenwa jump shot and free throw with 12:31 remaining. The Wolverines had a 67-55 lead with 6:31 remaining after Essex County sophomore guard/forward Frank Rokins made a layup. Manor embarked on its comeback scoring 14 straight points. Sophomore guard Calil Moultrie (Philadelphia, PA/Friere Charter) tied the game at 67 with 4:14 left. Three seconds later, Manor and took a lead, 69-67, on freshman forward Nijza Faison's (Philadelphia, PA/Dobbins) layup off of a turnover on an inbounds play underneath the basket. This was the Blue Jays' first lead since the first half (14-12 with 11:04). Essex County scored five of the next six points and took a 73-70 lead with 1:43 remaining on sophomore guard Quadri Calloway's free throw. Sargent tied the game at 73 on a three-point basket with 1:20 left on the next possession. After the Wolverines missed a go-ahead field goal with seconds remaining, Sargent made the layup at the buzzer for the game-winner. Manor outscored Essex County, 50-37, in the second half, including 20-6 in the final 6:31. Wagner led both teams with 14 points in the second half.
Sargent scored 10 points. He has scored in double-figures in all 23 games this season. Altogether, he has scored in double-figures 29 times in 31 career games. Lomax contributed 14 points (fourth game this season in double-figures) and paced both teams with 14 rebounds. He has four straight games with "double-doubles" in points and rebounds. Lomax also has eight games (including six consecutive) pulling down double-digit rebounds. Moultrie added 11 points (14th time this season with 10 or more points) and led both teams with five assists. Wagner had 10 rebounds and three blocked shots. He has scored in double-figures nine times and pulled down 10 or rebounds in game nine times this season. Wagner also has seven "double-doubles" in points and rebounds this season.
Jones led the Wolverines and both teams with 20 points. He shot 11 of 15 from the free throw line and handed out four assists. Calloway added 14 points and sophomore forward Ahmad Sherman came off the bench to score 12. Rokins pulled down seven rebounds and contributed four assists. Sophomore center/forward Marcos Baez led both teams with seven blocked shots.
The Blue Jays are 9-0 at home to start this season. Manor last won nine 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 4-16 overall and 4-5 at home (including four straight) versus the Wolverines. Manor its last three home matchups versus Essex County. The Blue Jays victory also snapped the Wolverines 18-game Region XIX Division II regular-season winning streak, dating back to the 2015-2016 season.
The Blue Jays improves its record versus nationally-ranked teams to 4-22 (3-16 versus NJCAA Division II). Three of the four wins are versus the Wolverines. Manor previously defeated a nationally-ranked team on December 12, 2015 (94-83 versus 16th-ranked Essex County). This was the highest-ranked team the Blue Jays have defeated.
Manor's next game is at home versus NCAA Division III Eastern University Junior Varsity. The Blue Jays defeated the Eagles JV on the road in St. Davids, Pennsylvania in its only other meeting, 102-70, on November 16, 2016.