By Steven M. Glassman

Director of Sports Information

February 1, 2024

JENKINTOWN, PA—United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) Division II Central Pennsylvania College (5-15, 2-1 Eastern States Athletic Conference) freshman guard Darius Wallace led the Knights with 26 points as they defeated the fifth-ranked USCAA Division I Manor College Blue Jays (8-4, 3-1), 98-90.

Manor opened up a 13-3 on freshman guard Manny Roach's (Medford, NJ/Life Center Academy) three-point basket with 17:18 remaining in the first half. Central Pennsylvania responded, going on a 17-7 between 16:22 and 10:31 (a 5:52 stretch) and tied the game at 20 on freshman guard/forward Kaeden Campbell's jump shot. After freshman center Donnell Loud's jump shot closed the deficit to 32-29 with 5:48 left, the Blue Jays went on a 11-2 run between 5:38 and 3:40 (a 1:58 stretch), and took its second double-digit lead of the first half, 41-31, on junior guard Namir Simmons' (Philadelphia, PA/Academy Park) layup.  The Knights answered, finishing the remaining 3:15 of the first half on a 12-6 run.  Manor led at halftime, 47-43.  Senior guard Eddie Fortescue Jr (Blue Bell, PA/Wissahickon) led both teams with 14 points.  Simmons scored 10 points for the Blue Jays.  Junior guard/forward Quadere Allen paced Central Pennsylvania with 10 points.

Central Pennsylvania opened with a 13-2 in the first 4:56 of the second half.  Allen's layup with 15:04 left gave the Knights a 56-49 lead.  Manor answered with a 11-4 run between 14:32 and 12:49 (a 1:43 stretch) and tied the contest at 60 on Fortescue Jr's layup.  The Knights took the lead for good, 62-60, on Junior forward Jordan Strickland's layup with 12:38 remaining.  This began a 15-2 run over the next 3:10 and Central Pennsylvania led by 75-62 on Young's layup with 9:28 left.  The Blue Jays responded with another run, 13-2, between 8:48 and 5:49 (a 3:59 stretch) and closed the gap to 79-75 on junior forward Jarid Vertil's (Willingboro, NJ/Rahway) layup. The Knights led 84-75 on Wallace's free throws with 5:06 remaining.  Manor got as close as 91-87 on a Roach free throw with 0:49.8 left.  The Knights outscored the Blue Jays in the second half, 55-43.  Roach led both teams with 25 points.  Vertil scored 10 points for Manor.  Wallace paced Central Pennsylvania with 17 points. Junior guard Rodney Ross and Strickland scored 13 points apiece for the Knights.

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

In addition to Wallace, Ross scored 18 and led Central Pennsylvania with seven assists.  Junior guard Anthony McClinton contributed 17.  Allen had a "double-double" with 12 points and 13 rebounds.  Strickland paced both benches 17 points and both teams with 28 rebounds.

Manor 2023-2024 Single-Game Scoring Leaders (including ties): Simmons (6), Roach (5), and Diagne (1).

Manor 2023-2024 Single-Game Rebounding Leaders (including ties): Vertil (4), Diagne (3), Fortescue Jr (3), Simmons (2), sophomore forward Idris Holman (Philadelphia, PA/Mercy Vocational Technical) (1), Cristeph Lamothe (1), and Roach (1).

Manor 2023-2024 Single-Game Assists Leaders (including ties): Simmons (9), Roach (4), Diagne (3), and Fortescue Jr (1).

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

Manor 2023-2024 Double-Figure Scoring Leaders: Roach (11), Simmons (11), Fortescue Jr (10), Vertil (9), 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 (3).

Manor 2023-2024 30-Point Games Leaders: Roach (1).

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 25-5 overall (13-1 at home). Since joining the USCAA for the 2021-2022 season, Central Pennsylvania leads the season series, 3-2 overall.  The Blue Jays are 2-1 at home versus the Knights since the 2021-2022 season.

Manor Versus USCAA Division II Schools (Since 2021-2022): Since joining the USCAA, Manor is 11-13 overall (6-4 at home) versus USCAA Division II schools since the 2021-2022 season. 

Manor as a Nationally-Ranked Team (Since 2021-2022): Manor is 5-2 overall (2-2 at home) as a Nationally-Ranked team this season.  They are 10-4 overall (4-3 at home) since joining the USCAA.

Manor Leading at Halftime (Since 2021-2022): The Blue Jays are 6-3 overall (3-2 at home) when they are leading at halftime this season.  Manor is 18-5 overall (10-4 at home) when leading at halftime since joining the USCAA.

Next Game: The Blue Jays host nationally-ranked number one USCAA Division I The Apprentice School Builders (15-4) on Saturday, February 3 at 1:00 p.m. in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania.  Manor and Apprentice's only match-up was on March 8, 2022 in the USCAA Division I Men's Basketball Small College National Championship Consolation Game.  The Builders won, 86-71, at NCAA Division II Virginia State University in Petersburg, Virginia.

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