Senior Kenneth Ortiz is the Wagner College Walsh Electrical Contracting Men’s Student-Athlete of the Month for December. Ortiz averaged a team-best 16.0 points per game while shooting 49.1 percent (28-for-57) from the floor and 76.7 percent (23-for-30) from the line. The Southern Mississippi transfer began his big month with 12 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals against preseason Patriot League favorite Lafayette (12/3). Ortiz followed that up with a team-best 18 points, eight rebounds and three steals while going a perfect 8-for-8 from the line in lifting the Seahawks a thrilling come-from-behind 75-69 overtime victory at Penn (12/7). Ortiz helped to force overtime by scoring the final three Green & White baskets of regulation before stealing the ball on the final Quaker possession. He then notched 12 points, five assists and four steals – all of which paced the team - at Rider (12/14). Five days later at 2013 Sweet 16 participant La Salle (12/19), Ortiz led all scorers with 18 points while handing out four assists and turning it over once over a game-high 37 minutes. The Newark native then capped his big month with his fifth career 20-point game in 59-52 victory at Monmouth (12/30), recording his 20 markers on 7-of-14 shooting. On the season, Ortiz ranks among the Northeast Conference leaders in scoring (13.8-12th), assists (3.7-7th), rebounding (4.2-19th), steals (1.5-7th), field goal percentage (.444-14th), free throw percentage (.783-9th) and assist/turnover ratio (1.26-10th).
