By Steven M. Glassman
Director of Sports Information
February 16, 2017
JENKINTOWN, PA—Sophomore Damian Archer scored 17 points, handed out eight assists, and contributed seven steals as Rowan College at Burlington County (13-9 Overall, 8-5 Region XIX Division II) upset 14th-ranked Manor College (19-6, 8-5), 87-74.
The loss broke Manor's 11-game overall, 10 consecutive home, and six-game Region XIX Division II winning streaks. The Blue Jays also won three straight games as a nationally-ranked team entering this contest.
The opening half featured numerous ties and lead changes. Neither scored more than four straight points for most of the first half. Manor took early leads of 5-4 (with 18:03 left) and 7-6 (16:56); Burlington retook the lead each time. Sophomore guard Kuante Sargent (Baltimore, MD/Newtown) gave the Blue Jays another lead (12-10) with 14:56 remaining. He became the fourth Manor College men's basketball player since the 1994-1995 season to score more than 500 points in a season with that basket (Please note that the 2001-2002 season is unavailable and the 2012-2013 season is incomplete). The Barons responded with a 10-3 run over the next 3:41, and took a 20-15 advantage. The run was finished off by sophomore center Aaran Benjamin's free throws with 11:15 left in the half. Both teams exchanged baskets between 8:11 and 2:02 in the first half. Manor twice took leads (36-35 and 39-37) during this stretch. Sophomore guard Robby Pierre (Irvington, NJ/Union Catholic) sank a three-point basket on an assist by freshman guard Kobe Ancrum (Bridgeport, CT/Bassick) with 3:50 remaining in the half. Sophomore forward Brendan Wagner (Allentown, PA/Allentown Central Catholic) layup off of a missed shot and free throw with 2:02 left gave the Blue Jays its final lead of the game. Archer's jump shot off of a Manor turnover with 1:37 left broke the 39-all tie and gave Burlington County the lead. Altogether, the Barons scored eight straight points over the remaining 1:37 of the half and took a 45-39 into halftime. There were also six ties and 15 lead changes in the first half. Archer led both teams with 12 points.
Burlington County expanded its lead to nine points (48-39) with 17:36 left in the second half on sophomore guard Aboubacar Camara's free throw. Manor scored on a Pierre layup with 16:53 remaining which broke a 6:03 scoreless stretch. The Blue Jays went on a 9-2 run during a 2:13 period and tied the game at 56 with 12:15 left on a freshman guard Dequincy Reed (Philadelphia, PA/Father Judge) three-point basket on a Sargent assist. Freshman guard Naythan Shaw-Clarke's layup gave the Barons the lead for good (58-56) on its next possession with 11:53 remaining. Manor kept close for the next five minutes and got within one point (67-66) with 6:17 left on a sophomore guard Calil Moultrie (Philadelphia, PA/Friere Charter) three-point basket with an assist by Reed. Burlington County answered and scored 15 straight points over the next 3:39. The run was capped off by consecutive "alley-oop" dunks by freshmen forwards Devon Anderson and Goree Venable-Gonzalez. Archer assisted on both scoring plays. Wagner's layup and free throw with 2:21 remaining in the game broke the Blue Jays' 3:56 scoreless stretch. The Barons' biggest leads were 16 points (82-66 and 87-71). Burlington County outscored Manor, 42-35 in the second half. Camara led both teams with 12 points in the second half. Altogether, there were also seven ties and 16 lead changes in the game.
Wagner led Manor with 17 points and two blocked shots. He has scored in double-figures in 10 games this season. Wagner also pulled down eight rebounds. Sargent scored 15. He has scored in double-figures in all 25 games this season. Altogether, he has scored in double-figures 31 times in 33 career games. Lomax paced the Blue Jays with nine rebounds. Reed scored 10 points off the bench and has scored in double-figures seven times.
In addition to Archer, Venable-Gonzalez contributed a "double-double" with 15 points and 22 rebounds. Camara scored 15 and Anderson pulled down 10 rebounds and led both teams with five blocked shots. Freshman guard Karon Blackwell scored 14 points off the bench for Burlington County.
Manor were swept by Burlington County for the first time since the 2010-2011 season. The Blue Jays are 7-11 overall and 6-3 at home versus the Barons. Burlington County won at Manor for the first time since February 10, 2011 (67-56), breaking a five-game losing streak.
The Blue Jays are 6-4 overall (4-2 at home) as a nationally-ranked team.
Manor's final regular season home game is versus Region XIX Division II Delaware Technical Community College-Stanton 7:00 p.m. February 23. This contest was rescheduled from Thursday, February 9 due to snow. The Blue Jays are 6-11 overall (including four straight) and 3-5 at home (including two straight) versus the Spirit. Manor won on the road at Stanton in its previous matchup, 76-73, on November 10, 2016. The Blue Jays defeated the Spirit at home, 86-78, on December 10, 2015.