Jan. 28, 2006
Box Score
Brooklyn, NY - Miscues by the Wagner College men's basketball team proved costly in a 75-65 loss to host LIU in the second game in the spanking new Athletic and Wellness Center. The Seahawks committed 19 turnovers, including eight in a decisive second half run as they fell to 3-6 in the Northeast Conference and 10-8 overall.
After LIU (6-11; 3-5 NEC) took a 39-33 lead at the half, the Seahawks bolted out of the locker room with six straight points to even the game at 39-39, 2 and a half minutes into the second half. In a hard fought game for both squads, the Blackbirds held a 48-44 advantage after a layin by junior Durell Vinson (Vineland, NJ / St. Augustine's Prep) with 13:48 to play.
The Seahawks trouble began after that as LIU ran off a 15-4 run coving the next eight minutes to seize control of the ballgame at 63-48 with just under six minutes. During the eight minute span, Wagner coughed up eight turnovers and shot just 1-4 from the field. A pair of three from Mark Porter (Atlantic City, NJ / St. Augustine's Prep) help cut the deficit back to seven, but it was not near enough as Wagner lost their fifth straight on the road.
In the first half the teams combined for nine lead changes and four ties before a 10-5 period for LIU closed out the half. Wagner trailed but three (36-33) with less than a minute on the clock, but a three by James Williams, one of six in the first half for the Blackbirds, provided the 39-33 margin at the intermission. It marked the fourth straight game Wagner has trailed at the half.
Vinson led all scorers with 20 points plus 11 rebounds for his ninth double-double of the year. Porter added 14 points and Matt Vitale (Brooklyn, NY / St. Edmund's Prep) chipped in 12 off the bench. Sophomore James Ulrich (Mt. Laurel, NJ / Camden Catholic) corralled 12 rebounds to equal a career high.
Williams had 17 in the game for LIU, while Paska Morkeliunas put up 16. Aubin Scott was also in double figures with 13 points.
Wagner shot a steady 48.1 percent from the floor compared to a 42.4 percent showing for LIU. The Seahawks also held a 39-32 advantage on the boards, but committed the 19 turnovers to just seven for the winners.
After playing five games in a nine day period, the Seahawks are until next Saturday when they host FDU at 2:00 pm. It is alumni Day for the men's basketball hoop program at Wagner.
~ wagnerathletics.com ~
