Nov. 25, 2006

Box Score

Staten Island, NY - The Seahawks men's basketball lost to visiting Vermont by a final of 77-69 at the Spiro Sports Center after being down by as many as 16 points in the first half. The comeback marked the second time in as many home games this season that Wagner College rallied from a double digit first half deficit only to run out of gas and fall short in the final outcome.

Vermont (3-3) used a 21-7 run over a six minute period in the first half to take a 20-18 lead into a 41-25 advantage with 1:54 left in before halftime. Wagner (1-4) would then hold UVM scoreless for the remainder of the period while receiving a free throw and a lay-in from junior James Ulrich (Mt. Laurel, NJ / Camden Catholic) and trailed 41-13 at the half.

Ulrich's three points helped set off a 27-8 run for the Seahawks then granted them a 52-49 lead with 13:30 to play. As the team hit 11-14 from the field to start the second half Senior Matt Vitale (Brooklyn, NY / St. Edmund's Prep) put Wagner on top with a three-pointer, which was followed by a pair of technical free throws from sophomore Joey Mundweiler (Olathe, KS / Olathe East).

The game would then go back and forth and was tied five times over the next seven minutes when sophomore Jamal Smith (Baltimore, MD / Towson Catholic) gave the Seahawks a 64-62 lead at the 6:14 mark. Regrettably that would be the last lead for Wagner as the Catamounts jumped off on a 9-0 run to seal the game with a seven point lead (71-64) and 1:38 left. The Seahawks miss handled the ball committing four of their 12 turnovers and missing just two shots in the five minute stretch of the 9-0 run.

Another three from Vitale brought Wagner back within four (71-67), but Vermont hit 6-6 from the foul line in the closing minute to seal the game.

Ulrich led the scoring with 15 points, while Mundweiler added 12 points for Wagner. The Seahawks shot 51.6 percent from the floor in the second half and ended up hitting at 44.1 percent for the game.

Colin McIntosh was the top scorer for Vermont with 18 points and eight rebounds in 20 minutes off the bench followed by 14 points from Joe Trapani. Mike Trimboli added 12 points and 6-10 Chris Holm produced a double-double with a game high 16 rebounds and 10 points. The Catamounts dominated the rebounding with 51 compared to 25 for Wagner. Vermont shot 42.9 percent for the game.

The Seahawks continue a three game home stand on Tuesday as they host Brown University at 7:00 pm

~ wagnerathletics.com ~