By Steven M. Glassman
Director of Sports Information
November 2, 2017
JENKINTOWN, PA—Manor College (1-0 Overall) freshman guard Isaiah Wiggins (Pocono Mountain, PA/Pocono Mountain West) scored the game-winning basket with 1.7 seconds left in the game as they defeated the visiting Division III Community College of Philadelphia (0-1), 87-85, in the season opener for both schools.
The Blue Jays opened up an 11-point lead (15-4) with 14:39 left in the first half on sophomore guard Keithantonio Davis' (Sicklerville, NJ/Eastern) pull-up jump shot from the foul line. The Colonials responded, scoring 12 straight points over the next 2:46 and took a 16-15 lead. This run was cumulated by freshman forward Jaylen Nixon's layup off of a Manor turnover with 11:53 remaining. The two teams exchanged leads over the next 3:32. The Community College of Philadelphia freshman guard Ishmael Marshall's layup with 7:29 left gave the Colonials the lead for the remainder of the half (22-21). Nixon's free throw with 2:18 remaining in the half gave the Colonials its largest lead of the first half (43-32). The Community College of Philadelphia led at halftime, 46-37.
The Colonials continued to lead in the second half before the Blue Jays embarked on an 18-9 run and tied the game at 55 with 14:01 left in the second half. This run was finished off by a Davis layup, with an assist on a long pass by freshman forward Anthony Thomas (Chester, PA/Chester) after a Community College of Philadelphia missed shot. The two teams exchanged baskets over the next 1:40 before freshman center Chris Bailey made a layup, with an assist by Marshall with 12:21 remaining. The Colonials took a pair of eight-point leads (66-58 and 68-60 with 11:18 and 10:00 left, respectively) on baskets by freshman guard Malachi Thompson (reverse baseline layup) and Bailey (off of a missed shot before the shot clock expired). Manor went on an 11-2 run over a 2:41 stretch to give the Blue Jays a 71-70 lead. The run was completed by freshman guard Dana Strothers' (Pittsburgh, PA/Obama Academy) layup with 7:19 left. The Blue Jays and Colonials continued to exchange leads for the next 1:58 before the Community College of Philadelphia took the lead, 74-73, on freshman Anthony Satchell's free throws with 5:21 remaining. The Colonials expanded its lead to five (84-79) on another pair of Satchell free throws with 1:13 left. Manor came back and tied the game at 85 on freshman Javon Flynn's (Philadelphia, PA/Bartram) rebound and layup off a Strothers' missed three-point shot with 27.7 seconds left. Thompson missed two free throws with 10.7 seconds remaining. Following the missed free throws, Wiggins sank the game-winning jump shot with 1.7 seconds left. After a time out, Thompson's inbound pass was stolen by Blue Jays' freshman guard Ahrod Carter (Chester, PA/Chester) with 0.6 seconds remaining. Manor outscored the Community College of Philadelphia, 50-39, in the second half en route to the 87-85 comeback victory.
Individual Statistical Leaders: Wiggins and Strothers each led the Blue Jays with 20 points apiece. Davis added his first collegiate "double-double" with 11 points and led both teams with 10 assists. Flynn pulled down a team-leading 11 rebounds. Thomas added 12 points off the bench.
Nixon paced both teams with 21 points and Satchell contributed 20 for the Colonials. Bailey collected a "double-double", scoring 14 points and led both teams with 14 rebounds.
Manor outrebounded the Community College of Philadelphia 43 to 29, and, defensively forced 24 Colonial turnovers.
Series Record (since 1994-1995, but, the 2001-2002 season is unavailable): The Community College of Philadelphia leads the series 27-9, but, Manor has won three of the last five contests since they joined the NJCAA for the 2008-2009 season. The Blue Jays are 5-10 at home versus the Colonials and have won three straight home match-ups. Manor previously hosted the Community College of Philadelphia on December 11, 2014 (81-66 victory).
Season Openers (since 1994-1995, but, the 2001-2002 season is unavailable): The Blue Jays improved its season opening record to 13-10 (and 4-5 since the 2008-2009 season), including winning four of its previous six.
Home Openers (since 1994-1995, but, the 2001-2002 season is unavailable): Manor improved its home opening record to 15-8 and 5-5 since the 2008-2009 season. They have won four straight home openers, including five of its last six contest.
Next Game: Manor hosts Division III Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, November 7. The Blue Jays are 18-7 versus the Bulldogs since 1994-1995. This is the first time the two schools have met since Manor joined the NJCAA for the 2008-2009 season. They previously met on January 23, 2008 (Manor 81-66 home victory).