Nov. 19, 2005
Box Score
Staten Island, NY - The Wagner College men's basketball team jump started their 2005-06 season with an 86-44 victory over visiting John Jay College earlier this evening at the Spiro Sports Center. The Seahawks improve to 1-0, winning their season opener for the first time since the 2000-01 campaign.
Wagner led from start to finish after scoring the first four points of the game. The Bloodhounds (0-1) would stand within seven points (16-9) after a jumper from Jason Parker at 13:56 in the first half. However on the Seahawks next possession, red-shirt freshman Joey Mundweiler (Olathe, KS / Olathe East) drilled one of three, 3-point field goals to set off a 25-4 Wagner run over the next nine minutes of action. Senior DeEarnest McLemore (Cary, NC / Cary) had three dunks for six points during the stretch.
Freshman Doug Elwell (Staten Island, NY / Monsignor Farrell) scored his first collegiate points, as he drilled a three with 54 seconds left in the half to give Wagner a 49-23 advantage heading into the break.
The second half saw more of the same with the Seahawks starting off on a 12-2 run highlighted by a pair of layups from freshman Matt Kittrell (Richmond, VA / Benedictine).
Ten of the eleven Wagner players scored in the game, including four in double digits. McLemore led all scorers with 17 points on 8-10 shooting, while Kittrell added 12 points on a perfect 6-6 from the field. Sophomore James Ulrich (Mt. Laurel, NJ / Camden Catholic) and Mundweiler each added 11 for the Seahawks which shot 53.0 percent from the floor and held a 44-23 advantage in rebounds.
Victor Raspaldo led John Jay with 12 points on the evening, while Aramis Ramos added nine for the Bloodhounds which shot 34.7 percent for the game.
The win was the largest for the Seahawks in an opener since a 95-55 victory over the College of Staten Island in the 1999-00 season, which was also the last time Wagner faced a Division III opponent.
The team returns to action at home on Tuesday when they host American at 7:00 pm.
