By Steven M. Glassman
Director of Sports Information
November 9, 2024
STATEN ISLAND, NY—NCAA Division I Wagner College (1-1) had five players score in double-figures as the Seahawks defeated the eighth-ranked USCAA Division I Manor College Blue Jays (1-2), 94-52, in its home opener at the Spiro Sports Center.
This was the first time Manor played a NCAA Division I varsity team in any sport since joining the USCAA. The Blue Jays were 5-8 overall (all on the road) versus NCAA Division I junior varsity schools between 1995 and 2016 when they were Eastern Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference (EPCC) (1990-2008) and National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) (2008-2020) Division II members.
Before the start of the game, Wagner raised two banners, recognizing its 2024 Northeast Conference Postseason Tournament Championship and advancing to the NCAA Division I Postseason Tournament First Round.
The Seahawks led early by as much as 11-4 with 16:12 left on junior forward Tyje Kelton's three-point basket with 16:12 in the first half. Manor responded with a 12-4 run between 16:04 and 13:13 remaining (a 2:51 stretch) and took its first lead of the game, 16-15, on sophomore guard Manny Roach's (Medford, NJ/Life Center Academy) layup and free throw. Both teams exchanged leads four times. Manor took its last lead, 21-20, with 11:02 left on senior guard Namir Simmons' (Philadelphia, PA/Quality Academy Prep) jump shot. The Blue Jays led by as much as 25-22 with 8:46 leff on sophomore forward Deacon Linder's (Philadelphia, PA/Hardy Williams Academy [Mastery]) layup. The Seahawks took the lead for good, 27-25, on graduate student guard Zae Blake's three-point basket with 7:20 remaining. Wagner finished the remaining 8:19 of the first half on a 27-4 run. The Seahawks led at halftime, 48-29. Linder led both teams with 11 points.
The Seahawks outscored the Blue Jays in the second half, 46-23. Junior forward Cheikh Diagne (Philadelphia, PA/Northeast) paced both teams with 10 points.
Statistical Leaders: Linder led Manor with 14 points. Diagne scored 10 and paced the Blue Jays with four assists. Roach led both teams with seven rebounds and paced the Blue Jays with three steals.
Senior guard Ja'Kair Sanchez came off the bench and led both teams with 17 points. Kelton scored 15 points and paced Wagner with six rebounds. Senior guard Javier Ezquerra contributed a "double-double" with 12 points and led both teams with 10 assists. Ezquerra paced both teams with four steals. Graduate student guard Rahmir Moore contributed 12 points. Blake added 11 points and six assists..
Manor 2024-2025 Single-Game Scoring Leaders (including ties): Linder (2) and Simmons (1).
Manor 2024-2025 Single-Game Rebounding Leaders (including ties): Diagne (1), Linder (1), and Roach (1).
Manor 2024-2025 Single-Game Assists Leaders (including ties): Simmons (2) and Diagne (1).
Manor 2024-2025 Single-Game Steals Leaders (including ties): Simmons (2) and Roach (1).
Manor 2024-2025 Double-Figure Scoring Leaders: Diagne (2), Linder (2), Roach (1), and Simmons (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 778 career points between Manor (389) (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 1-2 overall (0-2 on the road) this season leading at halftime.
Manor on the Road (Since 2021-2022): Manor is 0-2 on the road this season. They are 7-11 since the 2021-2022 season.
The Blue Jays as a Nationally-Ranked Team (Since 2021-2022): The Blue Jays are 0-1 overall (0-1 on the road) this season as a Nationally-Ranked team this season. They were 9-4 overall (4-3 on the road/at neutral sites) as a Nationally-Ranked team in 2023-2024. They are 14-5 overall (6-5 on the road) since 2021-2022.
Season Series (Since 1994-1995): This is the first meeting between the two schools.
Manor Versus the NCAA (Since 2021-2022): Manor is 0-1 overall (0-1 on the road) versus NCAA schools this season. They are 3-2 overall (2-2 on the road) versus NCAA Division III varsity schools since 2021. They are also 1-0 overall (0-0 on the road) versus NCAA Division III junior varsity schools since 2021-2022.
The Blue Jays Versus New York Colleges and Universities (Since 2021-2022): The Blue Jays are 0-1 overall (0-1 on the road) this season versus New York colleges and universities. They are 5-6 overall (0-1 on the road) versus New York colleges and universities since 2021-2022.
Next Game: Manor hosts USCAA Division II and Eastern States Athletic Conference (ESAC) foe Bucks County Community College Centurions (1-2, 0-0 as of November 9) on Tuesday, November 19 at 7 p.m. at the Gymnasium in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania. The Blue Jays swept the 2023-2024 season series from the Centurions (94-92 on February 15 and 102-100 on February 27). Manor leads the season series, 19-10 overall (10-4 at home) since 1994-1995 (2001-2002 season unavailable).
The Blue Jays are 10-10 overall (5-3 at home) versus the ESAC since the 2021-2022 season. Manor is 1-1 overall (1–0 at home) this season and 16-15 overall (9-4 at home) versus USCAA Division II schools since 2021-2022. They are 0-1 overall (0-0 at home) this season and are 17-16 overall (8-3 at home) versus Pennsylvania Colleges and Universities since 2021-2022.
Next Road Game: The Blue Jays travel to play the NCAA Division III University of Valley Forge Patriots (2-0 as of November 9) on Thursday, November 21 at The Pit in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. Manor won the inaugural match-up, 88-82, in overtime, on November 15, 2023 at home in Jenkintown.
Manor Athletics on Social Media:
Instagram: manor_athletics.
Twitter: @manorbluejays.
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