Nov. 30, 2005

Box Score

Providence, RI - The Seahawks improved to 3-1 on the year after hanging on for a 72-59 win at Brown (1-4) earlier tonight at the Pizzitola Center. Wagner was led by a career high 25 points from red-shirt freshman Jamal Smith (Baltimore, MD / Towson Catholic) as they post their best start since the 2000-01 season.

A strong defensive effort in the first half by the Seahawks boosted them to a commanding 40-17 halftime advantage. Wagner held Brown to 24.1 percent (7-29) shooting in the opening stanza, after the Bears started out 1-16 from the floor and went a 10 minute stretch without a field goal. Offensively Smith was on fire with 20 points in the half after scoring nine of Wagner's first 12 points.

In the second half, Wagner shot 57.1 percent (12-21), but committed 14 turnovers as Brown shot 16-22 from the foul line and climbed back into the game. The Bears used a 33-15 run to whittle the margin down to six (61-55) with 1:35 to play. Sophomore Mark Porter (Atlantic City, NJ / St. Augustine's Prep), who entered the game having made 13 straight free throws, drilled four straight free throws on the next two possessions to put the Seahawks back on top by 10 and secure the win.

Porter ended the game with 12 points and five assists, while shooting a perfect 6-6 from the line. Junior Durell Vinson (Vineland, NJ / St. Augustine Prep) was also in double figures for the third straight game with 14 points, 12 in the second half, to go with a game high eight rebounds and three blocks. Senior DeEarnest McLemore (Cary, NC / Cary) rounded out the four double digit scores for Wagner with 10 points, including two three-pointers.

The Seahawks shot 52.0 percent from the field for the game and connected on 7-11 from downtown led by a 4-4 performance from Smith. Wagner has now shot better than 45 percent in all four games this season.

Brown was led by the inside presence of Sam Manhanga with 14 points and PJ Flaherty with 11. The Bears ended the contest shooting 35.8 percent, and just 2-12 from three, but held a 35-31 edge in rebounding.

The win ended an eight game road losing streak against non-league foes for the Seahawks.

Wagner continues the season long three game road swing this Saturday as they travel to Yale for a 2:00 pm game.

~ wagnerathletics.com ~