By Steven M. Glassman

Director of Sports Information

December 2, 2023

SEWELL, NJ—United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) Division I Manor College (5-2) junior guard Namir Simmons (Philadelphia, PA/Academy Park) led the sixth-ranked Blue Jays with 25 points as they defeated the NJCAA Region XIX Division III Ocean County College Vikings (2-3), 85-76, in the Roadrunner Classic Championship, hosted by NJCAA Region XIX Division III Rowan College South Jersey-Gloucester.

Ocean County led by double digits multiple times during the first half. They took its first double-digit lead (20-10) with 13:20 left on a sophomore guard Kai Messeroll three-point basket. The Vikings took its largest lead of the game (25-14) with 8:40 remaining on sophomore guard/forward Kahlil Campbell's free throws. They would lead by double-digits three more times in the first half (27-17, 29-19, and 32-22).  After Ocean County took a 32-22 lead with 3:23 left on sophomore guard Brien Dunphy II's three point basket, Manor answered, finishing the half on a 12-2 run. Simmons' layup with 0:00.6 remaining tied the game at 34.  Simmons and Ocean County sophomore forward Clarence Celius scored 10 points each.

Manor took its first lead of the game (36-34) with 19:43 left on senior guard Eddie Fortescue Jr's (Blue Bell, PA/Wissahickon) layup with an assist by freshman guard Manny Roach (Medford, NJ/Life Center Academy).  There were two ties and seven lead changes in the first 7:19 of the second half.  Ocean County took its last lead of the game (50-49) with 12:51 remaining on Messeroll's three-point basket. The Blue Jays took the lead for good on its next possession, 51-50, with 12:41 left on Simmons' layup. The Vikings got as close as 53-52 on Celius' jump shot with 12:09 remaining. They also got within 64-62 on sophomore guard Dallas Weisse's free throw with 7:56 remaining.  The Vikings got close again (71-69) with 4:14 left on Weisse's three-point basket. Simmons' answered with a layup with 4:00 left.  The Blue Jays finished the game on a 14-7 run.  Manor outscored Ocean County in the second half, 51-42.  The 51 second-half points are the second-highest scored by the Blue Jays this season.  They scored 53 versus Patrick Henry College on November 11.  Fortescue Jr led both teams with 17 points and Simmons added 15 for Manor. Weisse led Ocean County with 12 points.  Dunphy II scored 11 points off the bench for the Vikings.

Manor won its first In-Season Tournament Championship since joining the USCAA for the 2021-2022 season.  They were in the  2021 Roadrunner Classic Championship versus Montgomery County College.

Simmons was named Roadrunner Classic Most Valuable Player and Fortescue Jr was named to the All-Roadrunner Classic Team.

RCSJ-Gloucester (3-5) won the Consolation Game, 70-63, versus USCAA Division II Williamson College of the Trades (3-7).

Statistical Leaders: In addition to Simmons, Fortescue Jr added 20 points and led the team with three steals.  Junior forward Jarid Vertil (Willingboro, NJ/Rahway) contributed 15 points and paced the Blue Jays with nine rebounds.  Roach scored 14 points and shared the team lead with Simmons with six assists.

Celius led Ocean County with 16 points.  Weisse contributed 15 points.  Freshman guard Dylan Hall led the Vikings with 13 rebounds and eight assists.  Campbell had a "double-double" with 12 points and 10 rebounds. He led the Vikings with five offensive rebounds.  Dunphy II led both benches with 14 points.

Roadrunner Classic Statistical Leaders:

Minutes: Roach (64).

Overall Field Goals Made: Simmons (16).

Overall Field Goal Attempts: Fortescue (25), Roach (25), and Simmons (25).

Overall Field Goal Percentage (10 or more attempts): Simmons (64.0%) (16/25).

Three-Point Field Goals Made: Roach (2).

Three-Point Field Goal Attempts: Roach (13).

Free Throws Made: Vertil (11).

Free Throw Attempts: Vertil (20).

Points: Simmons (36).

Offensive Rebounds: Fortescue Jr (6).

Defensive Rebounds: Roach (13).

Total Rebounds: Vertil (16).

Assists: Roach (11) and Simmons (11).

Steals: Roach (8).

Blocked Shots: Freshman center Cristeph Lamothe (Philadelphia, PA/Camelot Excel Academy) (3).

Manor 2023-2024 Single-Game Scoring Leaders (including ties): Roach (3), Simmons (3), and sophomore forward Cheikh Diagne (Philadelphia, PA/Northeast) (1).

Manor 2023-2024 Single-Game Rebounding Leaders (including ties): Vertil (3), Diagne (2), Fortescue Jr (1), Lamothe (1), and Roach (1).

Manor 2023-2024 Single-Game Assists Leaders (including ties): Simmons (6) and Roach (3).

Manor 2023-2024 Single-Game Steals Leaders (including ties): Roach (3), Simmons (2), Diagne (1), and Fortescue Jr.

Manor 2023-2024 Double-Figure Scoring Leaders: Roach (6), Simmons (6), Diagne (5), Fortescue Jr (5), Vertil (5), Latimer (1), and freshman forward Deacon Linder (Philadelphia, PA/Hardy Williams Academy [Mastery]) (1).

Manor 2023-2024 20-Point Games Leaders: Simmons (3), Fortescue Jr (2), and Roach (2), .

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): Series is tied, 1-1 (1-1 at neutral sites).

Manor Versus the NJCAA (Since 2021-2022): Since joining the USCAA, Manor is 4-4 overall (1-1 at neutral sites) versus NJCAA schools.

Manor in In-Season Tournaments (Since 2021-2022): The Blue Jays are 5-7 overall in In-Season Tournaments (5-6 at neutral sites) since joining the USCAA.

Manor Tied at Halftime (Since 2021-2022): This is the first time Manor was tied at halftime since joining the USCAA.  The last time the Blue Jays were tied at halftime was on February 2, 2017 versus NJCAA Region XIX Division I Harcum College when they were in NJCAA Division II.

Manor as a Nationally-Ranked Team (Since 2021-2022): The Blue Jays 2-0 overall (2-0 at neutral sites) as a Nationally-Ranked team this season.  They are 7-2 overall (3-1 at neutral sites) since the 2021-2022 season.

Next Game: Manor hosts NJCAA Region XIX Division III Delaware County Community College on Thursday, December 7 at 7:00 p.m. in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania. The Blue Jays are 28-9 overall (15-3 at home, including eight straight wins) versus the Phantoms since the 1994-1995 season (2001-2002 season is unavailable), including six straight wins. Manor won the previous meeting, 85-70, on December 2, 2021 in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania.

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