By Steven M. Glassman

Director of Sports Information

March 16, 2024

FRONT ROYAL, VA—United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) Division II Christendom College (14-10) sophomore guard Bobby Vander Woude scored 17 points and contributed six assists as the Crusaders defeated the Manor College Blue Jays (12-9), 85-75, in the Eastern States Athletic Conference Championship Game.

Christendom led for most of the game.  The Crusaders took the lead for good, 8-6, on junior forward Michael Messing's hook shot with 16:20 remaining.  Manor got as close as 10-9, on sophomore forward Cheikh Diagne's (Philadelphia, PA/Northeast) layup and free throw with 15:58 left.  Christendom responded with a 24-6 run between 15:23 and 5:57 (a 9:26 stretch) and led 34-15 on freshman forward Joe Ethridge's layup.  The Crusaders maintained a double-digit lead for the remaining 9:46 of the first half. Christendom led 46-30 at halftime.  Senior forward Peter Ethridge led both teams with 11 points.  Junior guard Namir Simmons (Philadelphia, PA/Academy Park) paced Manor with 10 first-half points.

Manor began the second half on a 16-6 run and closed the gap to 52-46 with 13:10 left on senior guard Eddie Fortescue Jr's (Blue Bell, PA/Wissahickon) three-point basket with an assist by Simmons.  The Blue Jays got within single-digits multiple times over the next ten minutes.  Christendom took its largest second half lead, 70-56 with 5:49 remaining on senior forward Peter Ethridge's three-point basket.  Manor answered and got within 75-68 with 2:43 left on Fortescue's three-point basket with an assist by junior guard Shyere Mayhue (Philadelphia, PA/People for People Charter).  The Blue Jays outscored the Crusaders in the second half, 45-39.  Fortescue Jr, freshman guard Manny Roach (Medford, NJ/Life Center Academy), and Simmons led Manor with 11 points each.  Senior guard John Paul Vander Woude paced Christendom with 10 points.

This was Manor's first Championship Game appearance since March 5, 2016 when they played the NJCAA Division II Essex County College Wolverines in the Region XIX Division II title contest at the County College of Morris in Randolph, New Jersey.  The Blue Jays lost to the Titans, 66-65.

Statistical Leaders: Simmons led both teams with 21 points.  He also paced the Blue Jays with five assists.  Roach scored 15 points and led both teams with three steals. Diagne led Manor with seven rebounds.  Fortescue Jr contributed 15 points in his final collegiate game for the Blue Jays.

In addition to Bobby Vander Woude, senior guard Andrew Heiser scored 15, and John Vander Woude and senior forward Peter Ethridge contributed 14 points each for Christendom.  Peter Ethridge also led both teams with 12 rebounds.

Manor 2023-2024 Single-Game Scoring Leaders (including ties): Roach (11), Simmons (8), Diagne (2), and Fortescue Jr (1).

Manor 2023-2024 Single-Game Rebounding Leaders (including ties): Diagne (6), Fortescue Jr (4), junior forward Jarid Vertil (Willingboro, NJ/Rahway) (4), Roach (3), Simmons (3), sophomore forward Bryce Nwobu (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) (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 (17), Roach (5), Diagne (4), Fortescue Jr (3), and Vertil (1).

Manor 2023-2024 Single-Game Steals Leaders (including ties): Roach (9), Simmons (8), Fortescue Jr (5), Mayhue (2), and Diagne (1).

Manor 2023-2024 Double-Figure Scoring Leaders: Roach (20), Simmons (18), Fortescue Jr (17), Diagne (12), Vertil (11), freshman forward Deacon Linder (Philadelphia, PA/Hardy Williams Academy [Mastery]) (2), freshman guard Steven Latimer (Hainesport, NJ/Rancocas Valley) (1), Mayhue (1), and Nwobu (1).

Manor 2023-2024 20-Point Games Leaders: Simmons (10), Roach (7), and Fortescue Jr (4).

Manor 2023-2024 30-Point Games Leaders: Roach (3).

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

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

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

Season Series (Since 1994-1995):  The Crusaders lead the season series, 2-1.  The Blue Jays lost both games at Christendom. 

Manor Trailing at Halftime (Since 2021-2022): Manor finished the season 4-5 overall (2-2 on the road) when they are trailing at halftime this season.  

Manor Scoring 70 or More Points: The Blue Jays finished the season 2-3 overall (1-1 on the road) this season when they scored 70 to 79 points in a game.  They are 4-9 overall (2-4 on the road) since the 2021-2022 season. 

Manor in Double-Digit Games: Manor finished the season 5-4 overall (0-2 on the road) in games decided by double-digits.  They are 13-15 overall (2-7 on the road) since the 2021-2022 season. 

Manor on the Road: The Blue Jays finished the season 4-2 on the road.  They are 7-10 since the 2021-2022 season. 

Manor Versus the ESAC (Since 2021-2022): Manor is 10-10 overall (3-5 on the road) versus the ESAC since the 2021-2022 season.

Manor Versus USCAA Division II Schools (Since 2021-2022): The Blue Jays finished the season 7-5 overall (3-2 on the road) and are 15-15 overall (4-7 on the road) versus USCAA Division II schools since the 2021-2022 season.

Manor in the Postseason: Manor is looking for its postseason win as a USCAA member.  They have won three postseason games since the 2008-2009 season when they were NJCAA Region XIX Division II members.  The Blue Jays last postseason win was on March 4, 2016 in the NJCAA Region XIX Division II Postseason Tournament Semifinals (87-73 versus the County College of Morris at Morris). 

Fortescue Jr Plays Final College Basketball Game for the Blue Jays:  Fortescue Jr played his college basketball game for Manor.  In 32 minutes, he scored 15 points and contributed two rebounds and two steals versus the Crusaders.  In 51 career games (48 starts), he averaged 14.2 points; 1.5 offensive, 2.9 defensive, and 4.3 total rebounds; 1.6 assists, 1.7, and 0.1 blocked shots per game. Fortescue Jr also had 37 double-figure scoring, including 14 20-point, and two 30-point games.   He was twice voted USCAA Division I Men's Basketball Honorable Mention All-American and named three times to the USCAA Division I Men's Basketball All-Academic Team.  Fortescue Jr was also named USCAA Division I Men's Basketball Player of the Week.  He was named to the 2022-2023 All-ESAC First Team.  Fortescue Jr was twice named to the Philadelphia Small College Basketball Association (PSCBA) Honor Roll.  Fortescue Jr was named to the 2023 All-Roadrunner Classic Team.  He won the 2022-2023 Manor College Men's Basketball Most Valuable Player and 2021-2022 Manor College Men's Basketball Coaches Awards.

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