By Steven M. Glassman

Director of Sports Information

January 30, 2024

MIDDLETOWN, PA—United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) Division I Manor College (8-3, 3-0 Eastern States Athletic Conference) junior guard Namir Simmons (Philadelphia, PA/Academy Park) both teams with 27 points (including 18 in the second half) as the fifth-ranked Blue Jays defeated the Williamson College of the Trades (6-11, 1-4) 65-54 in its ESAC road opener.

Manor led early, 11-6, on Simmons' layup with 14:02 left in the first half. Williamson answered, going on a 15-2 run between 13:44 and 8:07 (a 5:37 stretch) and led by 21-13 on junior guard Robert Whiley's layup.  The Blue Jays responded with a 15-4 run from 7:44 remaining to the end of the first half.  Sophomore forward Idris Holman's (Philadelphia, PA/Mercy Vocational Technical) free throws with three seconds left gave Manor a 26-25 halftime lead. Whiley led both teams with 13 points.

Freshman forward Abdoulaye Diallo's layup with 17:13 remaining gave Williamson its largest second-half lead, 31-26.  Manor answered with a 17-5 run between 15:29 and 10:10 (a 5:19 stretch) and took a 43-36 lead on Simmons' three-point basket. The Mechanics went on a 10-1 run between 10:09 and 6:55 (a 3:14 stretch) and took its final lead, 46-44 on Whiley's layup. The Blue Jays took the lead for good, 47-46, on freshman guard Manny Roach's (Medford, NJ/LIfe Center Academy) three-point basket with 6:41 left  Including Roach's three-point basket, Manor finished the remainder of the game on a 21-8 run.   The Blue Jays outscored the Mechanics in the second half, 39-29.  Simmons led both teams with 18 second-half points. Roach added 11 for the Blue Jays.  Junior forward Semaj Cherry led the Mechanics with 13 points.

Statistical Leaders: In addition to Simmons, Roach scored 15 points. Senior guard Eddie Fortescue Jr (Blue Bell, PA/Wissahickon) added 10 points and led both teams with four steals.  Sophomore forward Cheikh Diagne (Philadelphia, PA/Northeast) led the Blue Jays with four assists.  

Whiley led Williamson with 17 points. Cherry scored 13 and paced both teams with seven rebounds.

Manor 2023-2024 Single-Game Scoring Leaders (including ties): Simmons (6), Roach (4), and Diagne (1).

Manor 2023-2024 Single-Game Rebounding Leaders (including ties): Junior forward Jarid Vertil (Willingboro, NJ/Rahway) (4), Diagne (3), Fortescue Jr (3), Holman (1), Cristeph Lamothe (1), Roach (1), and Simmons (1).

Manor 2023-2024 Single-Game Assists Leaders (including ties): Simmons (8), Roach (4), Diagne (3), and Fortescue Jr (1).

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

Manor 2023-2024 Double-Figure Scoring Leaders: Roach (10), Simmons (10), Fortescue Jr (9), 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 (6), 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): Manor leads the season series, 9-2 overall (6-2 on the road/neutral sites) since 1994-1995 (2001-2002 season unavailable).

Manor Versus USCAA Division II Schools (Since 2021-2022): Since joining the USCAA, Manor is 11-12 overall (5-9 on the road/at neutral sites) versus USCAA Division II schools since the 2021-2022 season. 

Manor as a Nationally-Ranked Team (Since 2021-2022): Manor is 5-1 overall (3-1 on the road/at neutral sites) as a Nationally-Ranked team this season.  They are 10-3 overall (6-1 on the road/at neutral sites) since joining the USCAA.

Manor Leading at Halftime (Since 2021-2022): The Blue Jays are 6-2 overall (3-1 on the road/at neutral sites) when they are leading at halftime this season.  Manor is 18-4 overall (8-1 on the road/at neutral sites) when leading at halftime since joining the USCAA.

Manor Scoring Less Than 70 points (Since 2021-2022): Manor is 1-0 overall (1-0 on the road) when they score less than 70 points.  They are 3-4 overall (2-4 on the road/at neutral sites) when they score less than 70 points since the 2021-2022 season.

Next 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.

Next Road Game: Manor travels to play USCAA Division II Bucks County County Community College on Thursday, February 15 at 7:00 p.m. in Newtown, Pennsylvania.  Manor leads the season series, 17-10 overall (8-6 on the road) since 1994-1995 (2001-2002 season unavailable).  The Blue Jays have not won versus the Centurions in four games since joining the USCAA for the 2021-2022 season.  Manor last played at Bucks County in Newtown on November 19, 2022 (Bucks County won 103-87).  The Blue Jays last defeated the Centurions on February 8, 2019 (89-80 at Manor) when both schools were NJCAA Region XIX Division II.  Manor last won on the road at Bucks County, 65-56, on December 15, 2018.  

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