Jan. 5, 2006

Box Score

Staten Island, NY - Wagner College won its ninth straight home game at the Spiro Sports Center with an overwhelming 81-63 victory over visiting Quinnipiac. The Seahawks improved to 8-3 overall and 1-1 in the Northeast Conference with the victory over league foe Quinnipiac which slipped to 5-6 overall and 0-3 NEC.

Wagner junior center Durell Vinson (Vineland, NJ / St. Augustine's Prep) recorded his third straight double-double with 22 points and 13 rebounds, while sophomore guard and high school teammate Mark Porter (Atlantic City, NJ / St. Augustine's Prep) had his first career double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

Quinnipiac began the game with a 6-0 lead before Wagner put together a 23-3 run over a seven minute stretch. The run bolstered by five Seahawk three pointers and gave them a 23-9 advantage at 11:13 in the first half. Then with 5:31 to go before the break Wagner turned a 30-16 advantage into a 46-21 lead as they closed the half on a 16-5 run with nine points from Vinson.

The Seahawks defense, which held the Bobcats to 26.5 percent from the field and 7.7 percent (1-13) from three in the first half, let up slightly as a 14-5 stretch by Quinnipiac brought the margin to 16 (51-35) five minutes into the half. Wagner answered extending the margin back to 25 (72-47) 10 minutes later before one final rally attempt by Quinnipiac.

The Bobcats closed to with in 76-62 with 2:30 left, but never really threaten to get any closer as the Seahawks defeated the visitors for the seventh time in the last eight meetings between the schools and the fifth straight time at home.

Vinson shot 10-16 from the field and added three blocks, while Porter also dished out six assists. Senior DeEarnest McLemore (Cary, NC / Cary) handed out six assists as well to go with his nine points.

As a team Wagner shot 46.2 percent from the field and grabbed a season high 51 rebounds compared to 35 for Quinnipiac. In the first half the Seahawks shot 7-9 from three and ended the game hitting 42.1 percent (8-19).

Chris Wehye paced the Bobcats with a double-double of 19 points and 14 rebounds. Kevin Jolley (17 points) and Job Casimir (11 points) were also in double figures. Leading scorer, John Winchester (14.2 ppg) was held to just two points on 0-11 shooting. Their 32.8 percent field goal percentage was a season low.

Wagner returns to action on Saturday as the travel to Connecticut to face Sacred Heart at 4:00 pm.

~ wagnerathletics.com ~