Senior Kenneth Ortiz is the Wagner College Walsh Electrical Contracting Men’s Student-Athlete of the Month for February. Ortiz led the Seahawks to a 7-1 record, which included seven-straight victories to end the month, while averaging a team-best 15.6 points per game to go along with 5.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 2.5 steals each time out. He also helped the Green & White defense limit opposing teams to just 61.8 points per games on 36.3 percent shooting, including just 22.2 percent from long range. The Southern Mississippi transfer began the month with 19 points in a narrow loss to St. Francis Brooklyn (2/1) before bouncing back with 11 points, eight assists and three steals in win over FDU (2/6) and 13 points in a road victory at Sacred Heart (2/8). Eight days later, he notched a career-high seven steals with 18 points as the Green & White bested Bryant (2/16) 73-61 before a nationally televised audience. In the rematch with Sacred Heart (2/20), he recorded six assists, against no turnovers, with 13 points before capping the week with his sixth career 20-point game while helping Wagner avenge a prior loss to the Mount (2/22). After scoring 13 points in a comeback victory at FDU, he finished the season with 15 points in a 29-point win against Saint Francis U and a team-best 18 with seven rebounds and five assists in the Seahawks’ 59-48 romp over Robert Morris. On the season, Ortiz ranks among the Northeast Conference leaders in scoring (13.2-13th), assists (4.3-6th), steals (1.9-2nd), free throw percentage (.726-14th) and assist/turnover ratio (1.45-11th).
