By Steven M. Glassman
Director of Sports Information
November 20, 2023
LANGHORNE, PA—United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) Division I Manor College (3-2) freshman guard Manny Roach (Medford, NJ/Life Center Academy) led both teams with 28 points (including six three-point baskets) and four steals as the Blue Jays defeated the NCAA Division I Cairn University Highlanders (2-1), 77-74, in its road opener.
The Highlanders took its only lead of the game when they opened the scoring with a senior guard Aytor Alberto dunk with an assist by junior guard Christian Rivera (19:39). The Blue Jays responded, scoring 10 straight points in two minutes. Manor took the lead for good, 5-2, during this run on a junior forward Jarid Vertil (Willingboro, NJ/Rahway) three-point basket with an assist by Roach (18:55). The run was finished off when Roach sank a three-point basket with an assist by senior guard Eddie Fortescue, Jr (Blue Bell, PA/Wissahickon). The Blue Jays took its first double-digit lead, 15-4, when Vertil made a layup with 16:28 left in the first half. They scored 13 straight points between Roach's jump shot (12:59) and Roach's three-point basket (9:09) and increased its lead to its largest of the game, 38-12. Manor maintained a 20-point lead between 11:30 and 4:10 left (7:20). After the Blue Jays took a 42-17 lead on a Cheikh Diagne (Philadelphia, PA/Northeast) layup with an assist by Shyere Mayhue (Philadelphia, PA/People for People Charter) with 6:09 remaining, the Highlanders finished the half on a 17-6 run. Manor led 48-34 at halftime. Roach led both teams with 22 points. The Blue Jays also made nine three-point first-half baskets.
Manor maintained a double-digit lead for the first 4:05 of the second half. Cairn opened the second half on a 17-5 run and got within 53-48 on a junior forward Chris Eelman dunk with an assist by senior forward Derian Bradford with 14:40 left in the game. Between 6:09 remaining in the first and 14:40 left in the game (11:29), the Highlanders went on a 31-11 run. The Blue Jays took another double-digit lead, 59-48, with 12:46 remaining on a Diagne layup with an assist by Roach. The Highlanders went on a 17-8 run over the next 8:09 and got within two, 67-65, on Bradford dunk with an assist by Alberto with 4:37 left. Cairn got within a point, 73-72, on a guard Josh Forker three-point basket with an assist by Bradford with 56.6 seconds remaining. Junior guard Jon Desir missed a game-tying free throw with 18.7 seconds left. Diagne made two free throws to increase its lead to 75-72 with 17.6 seconds remaining. The Highlanders got within a point again, 75-74, on Alberto's jump shot with an assist by Bradford with 3.0 seconds left. Roach made two free throws with 1.3 seconds remaining. Roach stole Desir's inbounds pass around midcourt to clinch Manor's victory. Cairn outscored Manor in the second half, 40-29. Alberto led both teams with 15 second-half points. Alberto and Bradford combined to score 27 of the Highlanders 40 second-half points.
Statistical Leaders: In addition to Roach, Vertil scored 19 points and led Manor with eight rebounds. Diagne added 14 points. Simmons paced both teams with seven assists.
Bradford led Cairn with 21 points and five assists and both teams with 10 rebounds. Alberto scored 20 for the Highlanders.
Manor 2023-2024 Single-Game Scoring Leaders (including ties): Roach (2), junior guard Namir Simmons (Philadelphia, PA/Academy Park) (2), and Diagne (1).
Manor 2023-2024 Single-Game Rebounding Leaders (including ties): Diagne (2), Vertil (2), freshman center Cristeph Lamothe (Philadelphia, PA/Camelot Excel Academy) (1), and Roach (1).
Manor 2023-2024 Single-Game Assists Leaders (including ties): Simmons (4) and Roach (1).
Manor 2023-2024 Single-Game Steals Leaders (including ties): Roach (2), Simmons (2), and Diagne (1).
Manor 2023-2024 Double-Figure Scoring Leaders: Daigne (5), Roach (4), Simmons (4), Fortescue Jr (3), Vertil (3), freshman guard Steven Latimer (Hainesport, NJ/Rancocas Valley) (1), and freshman forward Deacon Linder (Philadelphia, PA/Hardy Williams Academy [Mastery]) (1).
Manor 2023-2024 20-Point Games Leaders: Roach (2), Simmons (2), and Fortescue Jr (1).
Manor 2023-2024 30-Point Games Leaders: None.
Manor 2023-2024 Double-Figure Rebounding Leaders: Diagne (1) and Vertil (1).
Manor 2023-2024 "Double-Double" (Points and Rebounds) Leaders: Diagne (1) and Vertil (1).
Season Series (Since 1994-1995): Manor leads the season series, 3-2 (3-2 on the road).
Road Openers (Since 1994-1995): The Blue Jays are 11-16 in road openers. They are 2-1 in road openers since joining the USCAA. Please note that the 2001-2002 season is unavailable.
Manor Versus NCAA Division III (Since 2021-2022): Since joining the USCAA, Manor is 3-1 overall (1-1 on the road) versus NCAA Division III schools.
Manor Leading at Halftime: The Blue Jays are 3-1 overall (1-0 on the road) when they are leading at halftime this season. Manor is 15-3 overall (3-1 on the road and 3-0 at neutral sites) this season when leading at halftime since joining the USCAA.
Next Game: Manor plays USCAA Division II Williamson College of the Trades (2-5 overall, 0-1 Eastern States Athletic Conference as of November 20) on Friday, December 1 at 5:00 p.m. in the Roadrunner Classic Semifinals, hosted by the NJCAA Region XIX Division III Rowan College South Jersey-Gloucester Roadrunners in Sewell, New Jersey. The Blue Jays are 8-1 overall (1-1 at neutral sites) versus the Mechanics. The Blue Jays split the 2022-2023 series versus the Mechanics. Williamson won, 74-67, in the Roadrunner Classic Semifinal on December 2, 2022. Manor won at home, 59-51, on January 26, 2023.
Manor Athletics on Social Media:
Instagram: manor_athletics.
Twitter: @manorbluejays.
#manorbluejays
#ManorStrong