By Steven M. Glassman

Director of Sports Information

February 24, 2024

FRONT ROYAL, VA—United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) Division II Christendom College (13-10, 6-2 Eastern States Athletic Conference) senior guard John Paul Vander Woude led both teams with 32 points and ten overall field goals made (including eight three-point baskets) as the Crusaders defeated the sixth-ranked Division I Blue Jays (11-6, 5-2), 75-65.

Manor took a 6-0 lead on junior forward Jarid Vertil's (Willingboro, NJ/Rahway) layup with 16:47 left in the first half.  After Christendom freshman guard John Fowler's layup closed the gap to 19-18, with 10:47 remaining, Manor scored the next ten points. They opened its first double-digit lead, 29-18, on freshman forward Deacon Linder's (Philadelphia, PA/Hardy Williams Academy [Mastery]) layup with 7:26 left. The Blue Jays took its largest lead, 35-21, on sophomore forward Bryce Nwobu's (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) layup with 4:47 remaining.  Altogether, Manor went on 16-3 run between 10:34 and 4:47 (a 5:47 stretch).  The Crusaders went on a 14-6 run between 4:35 and 0:28.4 and closed the deficit to six points on John Paul Vander Woude's three-point basket. The Blue Jays led at halftime, 41-35.  John Paul Vander Woude led both teams with 14 points.

Christendom cut into Manor's lead and took the lead for good on John Paul Vander Woode's free throws with 14:58 left in the second half.  The Crusaders opened up the second half on an 18-6 run between 19:13 and 13:35 (a 5:38 stretch) and led 53-47 on John Paul Vander Woode's jump shot. Manor got as close as 53-50 with 12:56 remaining on junior guard Shyere Mayhue's (Philadelphia, PA/People for People Charter) layup.  Christendom took its first double-digit lead, 62-52, with 9:26 left on John Paul Vander Woode's three-point basket.  Altogether, John Paul Vander Woode scored the Crusaders' 13 of their 17 points between 14:58 and 5:10 (a 9:47 stretch).  The Blue Jays got as close as 70-65, on Vertil's layup with 2:15 remaining.  Christendom outscored Manor in the second half, 40-24.  John Paul Vander Woude led both teams with 18 points and sophomore guard Bobby Vander Woude scored 11 for the Crusaders.

This was Manor's final regular season road game.

Statistical Leaders: Sophomore forward Cheikh Diagne (Philadelphia, PA/Northeast) led Manor with a "double-double" with 12 points and 11 rebounds.  Freshman guard Manny Roach (Medford, NJ/Life Center Academy) scored 11 points.  Mayhue led both benches with 11 points.

In addition to John Paul Vander Woode, Bobby Vander Woode scored 19, and senior guard Andrew Heisler added 12 for Christendoom.  Senior forward Peter Ethridge led the Crusaders with nine rebounds and both teams with four assists.

Manor 2023-2024 Single-Game Scoring Leaders (including ties): Roach (8), junior guard Namir Simmons (Philadelphia, PA/Academy Park) (7), Diagne (2), and senior guard Eddie Fortescue Jr (Blue Bell, PA/Wissahickon) (1).

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

Manor 2023-2024 Single-Game Assists Leaders (including ties): Simmons (14), Diagne (4), Roach (4), Fortescue Jr (2), and Vertil (1).

Manor 2023-2024 Single-Game Steals Leaders (including ties): Roach (7), Simmons (7), Fortescue Jr (4), Mayhue (2), and Diagne (1).

Manor 2023-2024 Double-Figure Scoring Leaders: Roach (16), Simmons (15), Fortescue Jr (14), Vertil (11), Diagne (10), Linder (2), freshman guard Steven Latimer (Hainesport, NJ/Rancocas Valley) (1), and Mayhue (1).

Manor 2023-2024 20-Point Games Leaders: Simmons (8), Roach (7), and Fortescue Jr (4).

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

Manor 2023-2024 Double-Figure Rebounding Leaders: Diagne (2), Holman (1), Roach (1), Simmons (1), and Vertil (1).

Manor 2023-2024 "Double-Double" (Points and Rebounds) Leaders: Diagne (2), Roach (1), Simmons (1), and Vertil (1).

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

Season Series (Since 1994-1995):  Season series is tied at one.  This was Manor's first visit to Christendom.

Manor Leading at Halftime (Since 2021-2022): The Blue Jays are 7-4 overall (3-2 at home) when they are leading at halftime this season.  Manor is 19-6 overall (8-2 at home) when leading at halftime since joining the USCAA. 

Manor Scoring Less Than 70 points (Since 2021-2022): Manor is 1-1 overall (1-1 on the road) when they score less than 70 points this season.  They are 3-5 overall (2-5 on the road/at neutral sites) when they score less than 70 points since the 2021-2022 season.

Manor on the Road: The Blue Jays finished the regular season 4-1 on the road and are 8-9 since the 2021-2022 season. This is the most road wins in a season since the 2019-2020 season (five) when they were NJCAA Region XIX Division II members.

Manor Versus USCAA Division II Schools (Since 2021-2022): The Blue Jays are 6-4 this season (3-1 on the road) and 14-14 overall (7-10 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 8-4 overall (5-1 on the road/at neutral sites) as a Nationally-Ranked team this season.  They are 13-6 overall (8-2 on the road/at neutral sites) since joining the USCAA.

Next Game: The Blue Jays host the USCAA Division II Bucks County County Community College in its final home and regular season game on Senior Night on Tuesday, February 27 at 6:00 p.m. in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania.  This game is rescheduled from January 18 and February 13.  Manor leads the season series, 18-10 overall (9-4 at home) since 1994-1995 (2001-2002 season unavailable). The Blue Jays won its previous match-up, 94-92, on February 15 at the Centurions.  They have lost two straight home contests versus Bucks County.  The Centurions won its last match-up at the Blue Jays, 100-88, on February 16, 2023.  Manor last defeated Bucks County at home, 89-80, on February 8, 2020 when both schools were NJCAA Region XIX Division II.

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