Dec. 17, 2005

Box Score

Kingston, RI - Wagner College received a game high 22 points from sophomore Mark Porter (Atlantic City, NJ / St. Augustine Prep), including 17 in the second half as they came away with a 63-61 defeat at Atlantic-10 member Rhode Island.

The Seahawks continue their hot start, improving to 6-1 on the year, as they now head to #14 UCLA next Wednesday.

Despite a size advantage by URI (5-3), Wagner played solid defesivley throughout holding the Rams to 28.6 percent (8-for-28) from the floor in the first half. The Seahawks built their largest lead of the half at seven points, 14-7, with 12:01 to play on the clock, before the Rams battled back to make it 23-23 at intermission. The Rams were 0-for-8 from behind the arc after 20 minutes of play.

In the second half, URI took its largest lead of the game on two free throws by sophomore forward Will Daniels to make it 37-31 with 14:15 on the clock. Wagner would not go away, even after a four-point play by freshman guard Jimmy Baron with 9:43 to go made it a 44-41 Ram advantage.

Wagner looked to put the game away, with a late 14-5 run behind eight points from Porter gave them a nine-point, 60-51 lead with 2:14 to play in the game. URI mounted one last comeback attempt, finishing the game on a 10-3 run, but would come up short en route to its second-straight loss.

The Seahawk lead was cut to just one (61-60), with 1:17 to play, but senior DeEarnest McLemore (Cary, NC / Cary) made two straight from the line for a three point lead.

After a missed three, Baron grabbed his own rebound and was fouled with three seconds left in the game. After hitting the first, he intentionally missed the second, which McLemore grabbed to help secure the win. McLemore would miss his two final free throw attempts, but a half court heave by the Rams fell way short.

The win is the first for the Seahawks over an Atlantic-10 opponent since an 84-83 victory over St. Bonaventure in 1991-92.

The win was the 350th in 20 years at the Division I level for Wagner Coach Mike Deane. Deane is 374-253 in his 22 years.

Wagner last defeated an Atlantic-10 school in 1991-92 when they won 84-83 at Rhode Island. The team has now won three straight and nine of the last 12 on the road.

Junior Durell Vinson (Vineland, NJ / St. Augustine Prep0 was also in double figures with 10 points.