By Steven M. Glassman

Director of Sports Information

February 3, 2024

JENKINTOWN, PA—United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) Division I The Apprentice School (16-4) junior forward Kelby Saunders Jr led the number one nationally-ranked Builders with 30 points and both teams with 12 rebounds and six steals as they defeated the fifth-ranked Manor College Blue Jays (8-5), 99-94.

Both teams exchanged leads for the first seven minutes of the game.  Apprentice took the lead for good, 20-17, on Saunders Jr's three-point basket with 12:12 left in the first half.  This was part of a 21-4 run from 12:51 to 6:58 (a 5:53 stretch) when the Builders led 35-21 on junior forward Clifton Goode's free throw.  Manor got as close as 35-28 with 5:24 remaining on senior guard Eddie Fortescue Jr's (Blue Bell, PA/Wissahickon) free throw. Junior guard Adrion Wall's three-point basket with 0:01.7 gave the Builders its largest lead of the first half.  Apprentice led at halftime, 52-36.  Wall led both teams with 16 points and junior guard Karee Smith scored 11 for Apprentice.  Freshman guard Manny Roach (Medford, NJ/Life Center Academy) paced Manor with 10 points.

Apprentice maintained for the first 12:24 of the second half. The Builders led by as much as 76-58 on Saunders Jr's three-point basket with 10:10 left in the game.  The Blue Jays responded with a 18-5 run, between 9:49 and 6:25 (a 3:24 stretch) and closed the gap to 81-76 on junior guard Shyere Mayhue's (Philadelphia, PA/People for People Charter) three-point basket. Senior guard Alvin Hawkins' jump shot gave the Builders a 91-79 lead with 3:59 left.  Manor answered again with a 11-2 run between 3:41 and 1:21 (a 2:20 stretch) and got within 93-90 on junior guard Namir Simmons' (Philadelphia, PA/Academy Park) layup. Manor got within three again, 95-92 on Fortescue Jr's layup with 0:49.0 remaining.  Simmons' free throws also got the Blue Jays within three, 97-94 with 0:11.6 left.  Manor outscored Apprentice in the second half, 58-47. This is the fourth time this season overall (third at home) that they have scored 50 or more second-half points. Roach led both teams with 25 points and Simmons scored 18 for Manor.  Saunders Jr paced Apprentice with 21 points.

Statistical Leaders: Roach led both teams with 35 points paced Manor with 11 rebounds and three steals.  Simmons scored 23 points and led the Blue Jays with six assists.  Fortescue Jr contributed 16 points for the Blue Jays.  

In addition to Saunders Jr, Smith and Wall scored 18 points apiece.  Freshman guard Donovan Means contributed 10 points.  Hawkins led both benches with 12 points.  Junior guard Xavien Hunter paced the Builders with five assists.

Manor 2023-2024 Single-Game Scoring Leaders (including ties): Roach (6), Simmons (6), and sophomore forward Cheikh Diagne (Philadelphia, PA/Northeast) (1).

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

Manor 2023-2024 Single-Game Assists Leaders (including ties): Simmons (10), Roach (4), Diagne (3), and Fortescue Jr (1).

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

Manor 2023-2024 Double-Figure Scoring Leaders: Roach (12), Simmons (12), Fortescue Jr (11), 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 (7), Roach (4), and Fortescue Jr (3).

Manor 2023-2024 30-Point Games Leaders: Roach (2).

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

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

Season Series (Since 1994-1995): The Apprentice School leads the season series 2-0 overall (1-0 at Manor).

Manor Versus The USCAA (Since 2021-2022): Since joining the USCAA, Manor is 11-18 overall (6-7 at home) versus USCAA schools.  

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

Next Game: The Blue Jays host the 15th-ranked USCAA Division II Villa Maria College Vikings (10-12) on Thursday, February 8 at 7:30 p.m. in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania.  This is the first match-up between the two schools. This is also Manor's last regular season non-conference game.

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