Dec. 21, 2006

Box Score

Terre Haute, IN - The Wagner College men's basketball team fell in a hard fought 92-86 overtime loss at host Indiana State at the Hulman Center earlier tonight. The defeat puts the Seahawks at 4-8 on the season as Indiana St moved to 6-4.

Junior Mark Porter (Atlantic, City, NJ / St. Augustine's Prep) led the way for Wagner with 21 points and six assists despite picking up his fourth foul with nine minutes left in regulation. Senior Matt Vitale (Brooklyn, NY / St. Edmunds Prep) and sophomore Jamal Smith (Baltimore, MD / Towson Catholic) each added 19 points.

Down 76-72 with four minutes left in regulation, Wagner scored five straight and a lay-up from James Ulrich (Mt. Laurel, NJ / Camden Catholic) put the Seahawks up 77-76 with 36 seconds left. A double foul call on the Sycamores possession forced a jump ball and gave Wagner the basketball. Porter hit the second of two free throws for a 78-76 advantage with 10 seconds left.

Gabe Moore was fouled going to the basket with 4.4 seconds remaining and after missing the first foul shot he intentionally missed the second. Moore secure a lose ball rebound and after a wild layup miss Jay Tunnell tipped in the shot at the buzzer to send the game into overtime. For Wagner it was the first over time game since a 76-72 loss at Quinnipiac on February 16, 2005

In the extra period Wagner held an 84-82 lead following an inside basket from sophomore Jamal Smith (Baltimore, MD / Towson Catholic) at the three minute mark. After a basket by Indiana St, Porter drove the floor on a fast break and picked up his fifth foul on an offensive charge with 1:44 left. A three by Moore on the next possession gave the Sycamores a lead they would not relinquish. Free throws down the stretch would then account for the final margin.

Porter started the game off with a three on the first possession and the Seahawks remained hot. Three pointers from sophomore Joey Mundweiler (Olathe, KS / Olathe East) and Vitale followed as Wagner jumped on top 9-0 three minutes into the game. The Sycamore leading scorer, Moore, would answer with five points in a 7-2 stretch over the next four minutes that left Wagner up 11-7.

The lead was still at four (16-12) at the 11 minute mark when a 9-2 Seahawk run gave them the largest lead of the game at 25-14 with seven minutes to play. Vitale scored five points in the run as he ended the half with 14 points shooting 4-5 from beyond the arc. Indiana St would outscore Wagner 20-10 over the rest of the period leaving the Seahawks clinging to a 35-34 halftime lead.

The Seahawks ended the game shooting a season high 60 percent from the field which consisted of a 17-22 (77.3 percent) clip in the second half alone. Wagner also held a 40-35 advantage in rebounding, but committed 21 turnovers. Vitale, playing his best game of the season also secured a team high eight rebounds, while shooting 5-9 from three. In addition, Mundweiler added 14 points and four assists in the game. The Seahawks were whistled for 35 fouls to 21 for the Sycamores.

Indiana St shot 41.8 percent for the game and was led by Moore with 29 points who topped five double figure scorers. Tunnell had a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds.

The Seahawks are now off during the holiday season. They'll return to action on January 4th at NEC preseason favorite Monmouth. ~ wagnerathletics.com ~