By Steven M. Glassman
Director of Sports Information
February 22, 2018
JENKINTOWN, PA—Manor College (16-10, 9-7 Region XIX Division II) freshman guard/forward Amir Hill (Philadelphia, PA/Parkway) led both teams with 31 points as the Blue Jays defeated the Mercer County Community College Vikings (12-15, 8-8), 88-77.
Mercer County led early, 12-8, on freshman forward Eddie Williams' three-point basket with 13:35 left in the first half. Manor took its first double-digit lead of the game, 24-14, on Hill's three-point basket with 6:36 remaining. This finished a 16-2 run over a 6:59 stretch. The Blue Jays took its largest lead of the game, 36-18, on freshman guard Isaiah Wiggins' (Pocono Mountain, PA/Pocono Mountain West) tip-in off of a missed shot with 2:43 left. This completed a 12-3 run over a 3:53 stretch. Altogether, Manor went on a 26-6 run during a period of 10:52. The Vikings finished the half on a 13-2 run. The Blue Jays led at halftime, 38-31. Hill led both teams with 14 first-half points.
Mercer County got as close as 44-41 with 16:19 remaining in the second half on freshman guard Donovan Guess' three-point basket, with an assist by sophomore guard Troy Whiting. This completed a 26-8 run over a 6:24 stretch between the two halves. The Blue Jays answered and reopened another double-digit lead, 55-44 on another Hill three-point basket with 12:54 left, with an assist by freshman guard Ahrod Carter (Chester, PA/Chester). This completed a 10-3 run over a course of 3:25. Manor would maintain a double-digit lead for most of the remainder of the game. After Guess made another three-point basket (on another Whiting assist) with 10:59 remaining to make the score 59-49, the Blue Jays responded. They opened up a 16-point lead, 67-51, on Wiggins' free throw with 9:05 left. Manor took its second 16-point advantage, 73-57, on sophomore guard Keith Antoniodavis' (Sicklerville, NJ/Eastern) jump shot with 6:37 remaining. The Blue Jays matched its largest lead of the second half for the third and final time on sophomore guard Kobe Ancrum's (Bridgeport, CT/Bassick) jump shot, with an assist by Davis with 4:09 left. Mercer County would get within nine points twice late in the game. Sophomore guard Dave Coulanges made a pair of free throws with 2:01 left that made the score 82-73. Whiting's free throws got the Vikings within 86-77 with 0:51.0 remaining. Manor outscored Mercer County in the second half, 50-46, en route to the 88-77 win. Hill led both teams with 17 second-half points. Guess paced Mercer County with 14 points.
Individual Statistical Leaders: Hill led the Blue Jays with 31 points. Wiggins scored 21, including 14 in the second half. Ancrum added 15 points.
Guess came off the bench to lead Mercer County with 15 points. Whiting contributed 14 points and paced the Vikings with seven assists. Coulanges scored 10 points. Williams led Mercer County with six rebounds and three steals.
Recent Region XIX Division II Success: Manor finished the regular season with a 9-7 Region XIX Division II won-loss record. This the fourth straight season they finished with a winning regular season conference record. The Blue Jays have posted five winning Region XIX Division II records since joining the NJCAA for the 2008-2009 season. Since the 2014-2015 season, Manor is 43-19.
Home Sweet Home: The Blue Jays are 10-3 at home this season. This the fourth straight seasons with 10 or more home wins. The Blue Jays have posted five consecutive non-losing home seasons and six of its last seven. They are 43-10 since the 2013-2014 season, including 28-5 versus Region XIX Division II schools.
Series Record: Manor leads the season series 12-9, including eight straight overall wins. They are also 7-3 at home versus the Vikings, including three consecutive victories. Manor has swept Mercer County for the fourth straight season.
Next Home Game: Manor hosts NJCAA Region XX Division II Cecil College in a non-conference match-up 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 27, 2018. Cecil leads the season series, 3-2, and both teams spilt the two games at Manor. The Seahawks won the previous match-up in North East, Maryland, 72-60, on November 2, 2016. Manor won the last home contest versus Cecil, 104-97, on February 20, 2016. This will also be final home regular season home game for three Blue Jays sophomores: Ancrum, Davis, and forward Antonio Willis (Newark, NJ/Newark).