By Steven M. Glassman

Director of Sports Information

December 7, 2023

JENKINTOWN, PA—United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) Division I Manor College (6-2) junior guard Namir Simmons (Philadelphia, PA/Academy Park) led the fourth-ranked Blue Jays with 22 points and four steals as they defeated the NJCAA Region XIX Division III Delaware County Community College Phantoms (4-7), 89-67.

Delaware County freshman guard Sadiq Fountain scored the Phantoms' first nine points.  His jump shot gave the Phantoms its largest lead of the game, 9-2, with 16:33 remaining in the first half.  Freshman guard Chase Johnson's three-point basket gave Delaware County a 16-11 advantage with 12:26 left.  Manor responded, scoring 18 straight points over the next 3:30 to give them a 29-16 lead.  During this stretch, Simmons' layup (with an assist by senior guard Eddie Fortescue Jr [Blue Bell, PA/Wissahickon]) and free throw off of a Phantom turnover and free throw gave the Blue Jays the lead for good, 19-16, with 11:15 remaining.  Manor took its first double-digit lead, 26-16, on a freshman guard Manny Roach's (Medford, NJ/Life Center Academy) three-point basket with 9:45 left.  Delaware County got within nine twice, 30-21 (with 7:35 remaining on Fountain's layup), and 33-24 (with 6:19 left on Fountain's free throw). The Blue Jays went on a 20-7 run for the remainder of the half.  During this stretch, freshman forward Deacon Linder (Philadelphia, PA/Hardy Williams Academy [Mastery]) layup off of a Delaware County turnover with 2:11 left gave Manor its first 20-point lead of the game, 49-39.  Manor led at halftime, 53-31.  The Blue Jays' 53 first-half points are the most since they scored 62 versus Patrick Henry College on November 11.  Manor's 22-point halftime lead is also the most since they were leading by 37 (62-25) versus Patrick Henry on November 11.  Fountain led both teams with 16 points.  Simmons paced Manor with 13 points. Roach contributed 10 points.

The Phantoms scored the first eight points in the second half.  Fountain's free throws with 18:22 remaining closed the gap to 53-38. They later got as close to 62-45 on Fountain's three-point basket with 15:49 left. Manor answered with a 13-4 run between 15:33 and 10:05 remaining (5:28) and increased its largest lead to 75-49 on Fortescue Jr's three-point basket with an assist  by sophomore forward Idris Holman (Philadelphia, PA/Mercy Vocational Technical) with 10:05 left. They would also maintain a 20-point for most of the rest of the game after this run. The Blue Jays would match its largest lead, 77-51, on Simmons' layup with 9:06 remaining.  Both teams scored 36 points in the second half.

Statistical Leaders: In addition to Simmons, Fortescue Jr added 15 points.  Roach scored 14 points.  Junior forward Jarid Vertil (Willingboro, NJ/Rahway) contributed 10 points and led Manor with eight rebounds. Freshman center Cristeph Lamothe (Philadelphia, PA/Camelot Excel Academy) led both benches with 11 points.

Fountain led Delaware County and both teams with 24 points and freshman guard Moussa Sore added 12 points.

Manor 2023-2024 Single-Game Scoring Leaders (including ties): Simmons (4), Roach (3), and sophomore forward Cheikh Diagne (Philadelphia, PA/Northeast) (1).

Manor 2023-2024 Single-Game Rebounding Leaders (including ties): Vertil (4), Diagne (2), Fortescue Jr (1), Lamothe (1), and Roach (1).

Manor 2023-2024 Single-Game Assists Leaders (including ties): Simmons (7), Roach (4), and Fortescue Jr (1).

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

Manor 2023-2024 Double-Figure Scoring Leaders: Roach (7), Simmons (7), Fortescue Jr (6), Vertil (6), Diagne (5), freshman guard Steven Latimer (Hainesport, NJ/Rancocas Valley) (1), and Linder (1).

Manor 2023-2024 20-Point Games Leaders: Simmons (4), 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): The Blue Jays are 29-9 overall (16-3 at home, including nine straight wins) versus the Phantoms since the 1994-1995 season (2001-2002 season is unavailable), including seven straight wins. 

Manor Versus the NJCAA (Since 2021-2022): Since joining the USCAA, Manor is 5-4 overall (3-0 at home) versus NJCAA schools.

Manor Leading at Halftime (Since 2021-2022): The Blue Jays are 5-1 overall (3-0 at home) when they are leading at halftime this season.  Manor is 17-3 overall (10-2 at home) when leading at halftime since joining the USCAA.

Manor as a Nationally-Ranked Team (Since 2021-2022): Manor is 3-0 overall (1-0 at home) as a Nationally-Ranked team this season.  They are 8-2 overall (3-1 at home) since the 2021-2022 season.

Home Sweet Home (Since 2021-2022): The Blue Jays are 3-0 at home this season.  They are 12-4 at home since the 2021-2022 season.

Manor Scoring 80 or More Points (Since 2021-2022): Manor is 14-8 overall (11-4 at home) when scoring 80 or more points in a game since the 2021-2022 season.

Manor Allowing 70 or Fewer Points (Since 2021-2022): The Blue Jays are 10-0 overall (6-0 at home) when they allow 70 or fewer points since the 2021-2022 season.

Double-Digit Wins (Since 2021-2022): Manor has won by double digits four times overall (three at home) this season.  They have won by double digits 13 times overall (seven at home) since the 2021-2022 season. 

Next Game: The Blue Jays host the USCAA Division II Christendom College Crusaders (3-3 overall, 0-1 Eastern States Athletic Conference) in its ESAC Home Opener on Friday, December 15 at 5:00 p.m. in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania. This is the first match-up between the two schools.  This is also the final game for Manor before going on its College's Holiday Break.

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