By Steven M. Glassman

Director of Sports Information

February 15, 2024

JENKINTOWN, PA—United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) Division I Manor College (10-5, 4-1 Eastern States Athletic Conference) senior guard Eddie Fortescue Jr (Blue Bell, PA/Wissahickon) sank a three-point basket at the buzzer as the fifth-ranked Blue Jays defeated the Division II Bucks County Community College Centurions (8-16, 2-4), 94-92.

Manor and Bucks County exchanged multiple leads for over the first six minutes of the first half.  Freshman guard Jeremy Henry gave the Centurions the lead, 18-15, on a layup and free throw with 13:40 left.  This was part of an 18-4 run between 15:18 and 9:39 (a 5:39 stretch) and Bucks County took its largest lead of the half and the game, 33-19, on sophomore guard Luis Rodriguez' jump shot.  Manor responded and went on a 22-8 run between 9:17 and 1:38 (7:39 stretch) and tied the game at 41 on junior guard Shyere Mayhue's (Philadelphia, PA/People for People Charter) jump shot. Freshman guard Elijah Bryant's three-point basket gave Bucks County the remainder of the half, 44-41, with 1:16 remaining.  Bucks County led at halftime, 46-43.  Freshman guard Manny Roach (Medford, NJ/Life Center Academy) led both teams with 13 points.  There were six ties and seven lead changes in the first half.

The Blue Jays and Centurions exchanged leads for over the first three minutes of the second half.  Bryant's three-point basket with 16:35 left gave Bucks County the lead, 54-51.  This began a 13-4 over the next 3:35 and opened up a 64-55 advantage, its largest lead of the second half, with 13:10 left on freshman guard Jasier Carter's layup.  Manor answered with a 26-8 run between 12:20 and 5:08 (a 9:10 stretch).  They took its largest lead of the game, 81-72 on sophomore forward Cheikh Diagne's (Philadelphia, PA/Northeast) free throws.  The Centurions answered with a 20-10 run between 5:01 and 0:10.6 (a 4:50 stretch) and took a 92-91 lead on freshman guard Octavio Alexander's jump shot.  The Blue Jays won the game on Fortescue's three-point basket at the buzzer with an assist by Roach.. Fortescue Jr also scored the team's final eight points.  Manor outscored Bucks County in the second half, 51-46. This is the fifth time this season overall (second time on the road and at neutral sites) that they have scored 50 or more second-half points. Bryant led both teams with 16 points.  Heath added 10 points for the Centurions.  Fortescue Jr paced Manor with 15 points. Junior forward Jarid Vertil (Willingboro, NJ/Rahway) contributed 13 points for the Blue Jays.

There were nine ties and 15 lead changes for the game.

This is the first time Manor has won at the buzzer since they joined the USCAA for the 2021-2022 season.  The last time they scored a game-winning basket with less than ten seconds left in the game was when Isaiah Leonard made a three-point basket with 0:05.5 remaining in overtime at NJCAA Region XIX Division II Mercer County Community College on February 8, 2022.  The last time they accomplished this in regulation was when Jewel Funchess made a three-point basket with 0:03.1 left versus NCAA Division III Gwynedd Mercy University Junior Varsity on November 21, 2019 when they were NJCAA Region XIX Division II members.

The 94 points the Blue Jays scored are the second-most points they have scored on the road since joining the USCAA for the 2021-2022 season.  They scored 110 versus Central Pennsylvania College on November 16, 2021.

Manor's victory versus Bucks County broke a five-game overall series losing streak.  Before this game the Blue Jays lost seven of their last eight overall.  This was also the first time Manor defeated Bucks County in USCAA and ESAC competition, breaking a four-game overall series losing streak. The Blue Jays last defeated the Centurions, 89-80, on February 8, 2020 when both schools were NJCAA Region XIX Division II members.  Manor last defeated Bucks County on the road, 78-64, on January 28, 2008 when both schools were in the Eastern Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference (EPCC), breaking a four-game road series losing streak.

Statistical Leaders: Fortescue Jr led Manor with 22 points Roach scored 21 and paced the Blue Jays with nine rebounds. Junior guard Namir Simmons (Philadelphia, PA/Academy Park) contributed a "double-double" with 17 points and led both teams with 10 assists. He also paced both squads with five steals. Vertil and Diagne scored 17 and 11 points, respectively, for the Blue Jays.

Bryant led both teams with 24 points.  Sophomore forward/center Jaquis Heath contributed a "double-double" with 19 points and paced both teams with 11 rebounds.  Henry and Carter scored 12 and 10 points, respectively, for the Centurions.

Manor 2023-2024 Single-Game Scoring Leaders (including ties): Roach (7), Simmons (6), Diagne (1), and Fortescue Jr (1).

Manor 2023-2024 Single-Game Rebounding Leaders (including ties): Fortescue Jr (4), Vertil (4), Diagne (3), Roach (3), 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 (12), Roach (4), Diagne (3), and Fortescue Jr (1).

Manor 2023-2024 Single-Game Steals Leaders (including ties): Simmons (6), Roach (5), Fortescue Jr (4), Diagne (1), and Mayhue (1).

Manor 2023-2024 Double-Figure Scoring Leaders: Roach (14), Simmons (14), Fortescue Jr (13), Vertil (11), Diagne (8), 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 (6), and Fortescue Jr (4).

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).

Manor 2023-2024 "Double-Double" (Points and Assists) Leaders: Simmons (1).

Season Series (Since 1994-1995):  Manor leads the season series, 18-10 overall (9-6 on the road) since 1994-1995 (2001-2002 season unavailable).

Manor Trailing at Halftime (Since 2021-2022): The Blue Jays are 2-2 overall (1-0 at on the road) when they are trailing at halftime this season.  Manor has won six times overall when leading at halftime since joining the USCAA for the 2021-2022 season. The last time the Blue Jays won on the road after trailing at halftime was on January 9, 2020 versus Rowan College at Burlington County when they were in NJCAA Region XIX Division II.  They were trailing 27-26 at halftime versus the Barons and won 69-67, in overtime. The last time they won on the road in regulation after trailing at halftime was December 9, 2019 versus Raritan Valley Community College.  They were trailing 45-38 versus the Lions and won, 86-72.

Manor Versus USCAA Division II Schools (Since 2021-2022): Manor is 13-13 overall (6-9 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 7-3 overall (4-0 on the road/at neutral sites) as a Nationally-Ranked team this season.  They are 12-5 overall (7-1 on the road/at neutral sites) since joining the USCAA.

Manor Scoring 90 Points in a Game (Since 2021-2022): The Blue Jays are 4-4 overall (1-0 on the road) when they score 90 to 99 points in a game since the 2021-2022 season.

Next Game: Manor travels to play the USCAA Division II Central Pennsylvania College Knights (8-16, 4-2) on Tuesday, February 20 at 6:00 p.m. at East Pennsboro High School in Enola, Pennsylvania.  Since the 1994-1995 season, the Blue Jays lead the season-series 25-5 overall (12-4 on the road and at neutral sites). Since joining the USCAA for the 2021-2022 season, Manor trails in the season, 3-2 and have not won on the road in two visits since that time.  Central Pennsylvania won the previous match-ups, 98-90, on February 1, 2024, at Manor, and, 90-78, on November 18, 2023, in the Electric City Classic Consolation Game at NCAA Division III Marywood University in Scranton, Pennsylvania. The Blue Jays lost to the Knights in its most recent visit, 95-79, on February 11, 2023, at East Pennsboro High School.  Manor last won at Central Pennsylvania on January 15, 2008, 82-68, when they were EPCC members.

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