By Steven M. Glassman

Director of Sports Information

November 3, 2024

JENKINTOWN, PA—United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) Division I Manor College (1-0) sophomore forward Deacon Linder (Philadelphia, PA/Hardy Williams Academy [Mastery]) posted career-highs in points (23), rebounds (13, including 10 offensive), free throws made (11) and free throw attempts (13), and minutes (38) as the Blue Jays defeated the USCAA Division II State University of New York (SUNY)-Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) (0-2), 70-69, in its regular season and home opener.

This was SUNY-ESF's first visit to Manor.  The two schools previously met on November 17, 2023 in the Electric City Classic Semifinals, hosted by NCAA Division III Marywood University (The Mighty Oaks won in overtime, 98-89).  This was also the first visit by a Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (HVIAC) member since the Berkeley College (New York) Knights came to Manor on January 28, 2023 (The Knights won, 101-83).

After SUNY-ESF freshman forward Nathaniel Sletvold's layup gave the Mighty Oaks an 11-9 lead with 14:38 left in the first half, Manor responded with an 8-1 run between 14:10 and 10:30 remaining (a 2:40 stretch), and led 17-12 on a Linder free throw.  The Blue Jays five-point lead was its largest of the first half.  The Mighty Oaks answered with 10 straight points between 10:17 and 7:31 left (a 2:47 stretch) and took a 22-17 lead on a freshman guard Jaylen Dixon-Wade layup.  After Manor got within 22-21 on a junior forward Idris Holman (Philadelphia, PA/Mercy Vocational Technical) free throw, SUNY-ESF junior center Ian Holland scored six straight points, and the Mighty Oaks took its largest first-half lead, 28-21, with 3:31 remaining on a Holland layup.  The Blue Jays scored eight of the next 10 points and got within 30-29, on junior forward Cheikh Diagne's (Philadelphia, PA/Northeast) jump shot with about 0:39 left.  The Mighty Oaks led at halftime, 30-29.  Diagne led both teams with 13 points.  There were three ties and four first-half lead changes.

Manor and SUNY-ESF exchanged multiple leads within the first four minutes of the second half.  After Linder's layup with 16:14 left in the game gave the Blue Jays a 37-36 lead, SUNY-ESF  answered with a 14-2 run between 15:51 and 12:04 remaining (a 3:47 stretch).  The Mighty Oaks opened up a 50-39 lead on senior forward Antonio Franco's jump shot and free throw.  Manor responded with a 12-2 run between 11:46 and 8:51 left (a 2:56 stretch).  Sophomore guard Manny Roach's (Medford, NJ/Life Center Academy) layup tied the game at 52.  The two schools exchanged leads for approximately two minutes.  Roach's layup with 6:48 remaining gave Manor the lead for good, 56-55.  Between 10:11 and 6:48 left (a 3:22 stretch), Roach scored 10 of the Blue Jays' 12 points during this period.  Linder's layup and free throw with 4:06 remaining gave Manor the first of its five-point second-half leads, 66-61.  Roach's layup with 3:10 left gave the Blue Jays its second five-point second-half advantage, 68-63.  Linder's layup with 1:55 remaining gave Manor another five-point lead, 70-65.  Linder scored nine of Manor's remaining 11 points.  Franco's three-point basket with 0:52.2 left got SUNY-ESF within 70-68.  After a Manor foul with 0:03.2 remaining, freshman forward Ben Zito had a chance to possibly send this game into overtime with two free throws.  Zito made his first free throw, but the second missed, it was rebounded by Diagne, and the game ended.  SUNY-ESF made 19 of its 20 second-half free throws before Zito's missed free throw.  The Blue Jays outscored the Mighty Oaks in the second half, 41-39.  Linder led both teams with 19 points.  Roach added 12 points for the Blue Jays.  Linder and Roach combined to score Manor's 31 of 41 second-half points.  Franco paced Bucks County with 13 points.  Emery contributed 10 points for the Mighty Oaks.  There were two ties and 11 second-half lead changes.

Altogether, there were five ties and 15 lead changes for the game.

Statistical Leaders: In addition to Linder, Roach and Diagne, scored 18 and 15 points, respectively.  Diagne also contributed 11 rebounds.  Senior guard Namir Simmons (Philadelphia, PA/Quality Academy Prep) led Manor with six assists and four steals.

Junior forward Patrick Emery and Franco each led SUNY-ESF with 16 points apiece.  Sletvold also scored 15 for the Mighty Oaks.

Manor 2024-2025 Single-Game Scoring Leaders (including ties): Linder (1).

Manor 2024-2025 Single-Game Rebounding Leaders (including ties): Linder (1).

Manor 2024-2025 Single-Game Assists Leaders (including ties): Simmons (1).

Manor 2024-2025 Single-Game Steals Leaders (including ties): Simmons (1).

Manor 2024-2025 Double-Figure Scoring Leaders: Diagne (1), Linder (1), and Roach (1).

Manor 2024-2025 20-Point Games Leaders: Linder (1).

Manor 2023-2024 Double-Figure Rebounding Leaders: Diagne (1) and Linder (1).

Manor 2024-2025 "Double-Double" (Points and Rebounds) Leaders: Linder (1).

1,000-Point Milestone Watch: Simmons has 759 career points between Manor (370) (2023-present) and the NJCAA Region XIX Division III Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology Bulldogs (389) (2021-2023).

Manor Trailing at Halftime (Since 2021-2022): Manor is 1-0 overall (1-0 at home) this season leading at halftime (1-0 at home). The Blue Jays were 4-5 overall (2-2 at home) when they were trailing at halftime during the 2023-2024 season.  Manor has won nine times overall (eight at home) when trailing at halftime since joining the USCAA for the 2021-2022 season. 

Blue Jays Scoring 70 or More Points (Since 2021-2022): The Blue Jays are 1-0 overall (1-0 at home) this season when scoring 70 to 79 points in a game. The Blue Jays finished the 2023-2024 season 2-3 overall (0-0 at home) this season when they scored 70 to 79 points in a game.  They are 5-9 overall (1-0 at home) since 2021-2022. 

Blue Jays Allowing 69 or Fewer Points (Since 2021-2022): The Blue Jays are 1-0 overall (1-0 at home) this season when allowing 69 or fewer points in a game. They were 4-0 overall (2-0 at home during the 2023-2024 season and are 10-0 (5-0 at home) since 2021-2022.  

Manor in Single-Digit Games: Manor is 1-0 overall (1-0 at home) this season in games decided by single-digits.  Manor finished the 2023-2024 season 7-5 overall (3-3 at home) in games decided by single-digits.  They are 14-12 overall (9-4 at home) since 2021-2022.

Blue Jays by a Basket (or Less): The Blue Jays are 1-0 overall (1-0 at home) this season in games decided by three or fewer points.  They finished the 2023-2024 season 3-0 overall (1-0 at home) in this category and are 6-2 overall (3-1 at home) since 2021-2022. 

Manor at Home: Manor is 1-0 at home this season.  They finished the 2023-2024 season 6-3 at home and are 15-7 since 2021-2022.

Season Series (Since 1994-1995): The series is tied at one overall (1-0 at home) since 1994-1995 (2001-2002 season unavailable). 

Manor Versus the Association (Since 2021-2022): Manor is 1-0 overall (1-0 at home) this season versus the USCAA.  They were 9-9 overall (3-3 at home) in the 2023-2024 season and are 18-22 overall (9-7 at home) since 2021-2022. 

Blue Jays Versus USCAA Division II Schools (Since 2021-2022): The Blue Jays are 1-0 this season versus USCAA Division II schools.  They finished the 2023-2024 season 7-4 overall (4-3 at home). They are 16-14 overall (9-4 at home) versus USCAA Division II schools since 2021-2022.

Manor Versus the HVIAC (Since 2021-2022): Manor is 1-0 overall (1-0 at home) this season versus the HVIAC.  They were 1-1 overall (1-0 at home) during the 2023-2024 season versus the HVIAC and are 4-2 overall (3-1 at home) since 2021-2022.

The Blue Jays Versus New York Colleges and Universities (Since 2021-2022): The Blue Jays are 1-0 overall (1-0 at home) this season versus New York colleges and universities. They were 1-2 overall (1-0 at home) versus New York schools during the 2023-2024 season and are 5-5 overall (4-2 at home) since 2021-2022.

Next Game: The Blue Jays travel to play the USCAA Division II Pennsylvania State University-Hazleton Nittany Lions (1-0) on Wednesday, November 6 at 7:00 p.m. at the Physical Education Center in Hazleton, Pennsylvania.  This is the first Manor is facing Penn State University Hazleton since joining the USCAA.  The Blue Jays previously played the Nittany Lions on November 28, 1994 in Hazleton (Hazleton won, 81-80).  Manor is looking for its first win in three tries (second on the road and one at a neutral site) versus the Pennsylvania State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC).  They previously played a PSUAC school on November 11, 2022 versus Wilkes-Barre in the Electric City Classic Semifinal at NCAA Division III Marywood University in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.

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