By Steven M. Glassman

Director of Sports Information

January 27, 2024

JENKINTOWN, PA—United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) Division I Mid-Atlantic Christian University (4-11) junior Noah Richardson Keys led both teams with 37 points and 14 rebounds as the Mustangs defeated the fifth-ranked Manor College Blue Jays (7-3) 98-91.

Manor and Mid-Atlantic Christian exchanged multiple leads in approximately the first eight minutes of the game.  The Mustangs led by 26-21 with 10:28 remaining on sophomore Joshua Tyler's jump shot.  Manor went on a 15-2 run between 10:12 and 7:34 (a 2:38 stretch) and led by 35-28 on junior forward Jarid Vertil's (Willingboro, NJ/Rahway) layup.  After Tyler's free throw closed the gap to 40-39 with 4:12 left, the Blue Jays answered with a 9-2 run between 3:42 and 1:49 (a 1:53 stretch) and opened up a 49-41 lead on Vertil's reverse layup. Manor led at halftime, 53-47. Freshman guard Manny Roach (Medford, NJ/Life Center Academy) and Richardson Keys led both teams with 15 points each.  Vertil scored 13 points and junior guard Namir Simmons (Philadelphia, PA/Academy Park) added 10. Tyler contributed 11 points and junior Carlos Raven scored 10 for the Mustangs.

Mid-Atlantic Christian scored the first nine points in the first 2:28 of the second half.  The Mustangs took the lead for good, 61-60, on Richardson Keys' layup with 15:55 left.  Tyler's three-point basket gave Mid-Atlantic Christian a 66-60 advantage with 14:57 remaining. Altogether, the Mustangs went on a 19-7 run in the first 5:03 of the second half.  Manor got as close as 67-66 with 11:48 remaining on Roach's jump shot.  Mid-Atlantic answered, scoring nine straight points between 11:22 and 8:40 (a 2:42 stretch) and opened up its largest lead of the game, 78-66 on freshman Elijah Cox' layup.   The Mustangs outscored the Blue Jays in the second half, 51-38.  Richardson Keys led both teams with 22 points.  Tyler scored 13 points for the Mustangs.  Simmons and senior guard Eddie Fortescue Jr (Blue Bell, PA/Wissahickon) led Manor with 11 points each.

This was the first game for the Blue Jays since returning from Manor's Holiday Break.

Statistical Leaders: Simmons led Manor with 21 points. Fortescue Jr added 20 points and Roach contributed 19.  Vertil scored 16 points. Sophomore forward Idris Holman (Philadelphia, PA/Mercy Vocational Technical) led both benches with 11 rebounds. Sophomore forward Cheikh Diagne (Philadelphia, PA/Northeast) led the Blue Jays with six assists.  

In addition to Richardson Keys, Tyler scored 24 and pulled down 10 rebounds.  Raven added 17 points, 11 rebounds, and led the Mustangs with five assists.

Manor 2023-2024 Single-Game Scoring Leaders (including ties): Simmons (5), Roach (4), and Diagne (1).

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

Manor 2023-2024 Single-Game Assists Leaders (including ties): Simmons (8), Roach (4), Diagne (2), and Fortescue Jr (1).

Manor 2023-2024 Single-Game Steals Leaders (including ties): Roach (4), Simmons (3), Diagne (1), Fortescue Jr (2), and junior guard Shyere Mayhue (Philadelphia, PA/People for People Charter) (1).

Manor 2023-2024 Double-Figure Scoring Leaders: Roach (9), Simmons (9), Fortescue Jr (8), Vertil (8), Diagne (6), freshman forward Deacon Linder (Philadelphia, PA/Hardy Williams Academy [Mastery]) (2), and freshman guard Steven Latimer (Hainesport, NJ/Rancocas Valley) (1).

Manor 2023-2024 20-Point Games Leaders: Simmons (5), Roach (4), and Fortescue Jr (2).

Manor 2023-2024 30-Point Games Leaders: None.

Manor 2023-2024 Double-Figure Rebounding Leaders: Diagne (1), Holman (1), and Vertil (1).

Manor 2023-2024 "Double-Double" (Points and Rebounds) Leaders: Diagne (1) and Vertil (1).

Season Series (Since 1994-1995): This is the first game in this series between the two schools.

Manor Versus The USCAA (Since 2021-2022): Since joining the USCAA, Manor is 10-16 overall (6-5 at home) versus USCAA schools. 

Manor as a Nationally-Ranked Team (Since 2021-2022): Manor is 4-1 overall (2-1 at home) as a Nationally-Ranked team this season.  They are 9-3 overall (4-2 at home) since the 2021-2022 season.

Manor Leading at Halftime (Since 2021-2022): The Blue Jays are 5-2 overall (3-1 at home) when they are leading at halftime this season.  Manor is 17-4 overall (10-3 at home) when leading at halftime since joining the USCAA.

Next Game: The Blue Jays travel to play USCAA Division II Williamson College of the Trades on Tuesday, January 30, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. in Middletown, Pennsylvania.  Manor leads the season series, 8-2 overall (5-2 on the road/at neutral sites) since 1994-1995 (2001-2002 season unavailable).  The Blue Jays won the previous match-up, 78-45, on December 1, 2023 in the Roadrunner Classic Semifinals, hosted by NJCAA Region XIX Division III Rowan College South-Jersey Gloucester, in Sewell, New Jersey.

Next Home Game: The Blue Jays host the USCAA Division II Central Pennsylvania College Knights (5-15, 2-1) on Thursday, February 1 at 6:30 p.m. in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania.  Since the 1994-1995 season, Manor leads the season-series 25-4 overall (13-0 at home). Since joining the USCAA for the 2021-2022 season, the season series is tied, 2-2 (2-0 at home).  Central Pennsylvania won the previous match-up, 90-78, on November 18, 2023, in the Electric City Classic Consolation Game at NCAA Division III Marywood University in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

Manor Athletics on Social Media:

Instagram: manor_athletics.

Twitter: @manorbluejays.

#manorbluejays

#ManorStrong