Feb. 13, 2006

Box Score

West Long Branch, NJ - After trailing by 23 points at one point in the second half the Seahawks closed to within four, but came up short in a 61-55 loss at host Monmouth in Boylan Gymnasium. The outcome marked the sixth straight defeat for Wagner which stands at 10-12 overall and 3-10 in the Northeast Conference.

Down 50-30 with just under 11 minutes remaining, the Seahawks used a 19-4 run to pull within five (54-49) with 5:22 left to play. Wagner struggled from the field (8-30) throughout the first half, but shot a sizzling 7-9 during the run which including six points from sophomore Mark Porter (Atlantic City, NJ / St. Augustine's Prep).

Junior Durell Vinson (Vineland, NJ / St. Augustine's Prep) would cap off the run on a lay-in off a feed from senior DeEarnest McLemore (Cary, NC / Cary). Monmouth (13-12; 10-4 NEC) would then secure two offensive rebounds on the next possession before Porter stole a pass and short-armed a contested breakaway layup. The Hawks Chris Kenny then drilled a three on the other side of the court for an eight advantage (57-49) and control of the game.

The Seahawks had one last push to climb within four at 59-55 after a pair of foul shots from sophomore James Ulrich (Mt. Laurel, NJ / Camden Catholic) with 19 seconds left. The Wagner rally would end there however as Monmouth completed the scoring with a pair of free throws and Wagner lost its seventh straight game on the road.

In the first half, the Seahawks managed just 2-12 in the opening nine minutes as the fell behind 13-4. Wagner still trailed by nine with 5:15 left when Monmouth closed the half on with a 12-5 stretch, including a Tyler Azzarelli three with two second on the clock for a 33-17 halftime advantage.

Porter led the way with 13 points for Wagner on 5-7 shooting. Vinson and freshman Jamal Smith (Baltimore, MD / Towson Catholic) each added 12 points with Vinson grabbing nine rebounds and Smith seven. As a team the Seahawks shot 37.5 percent for the game including a 13-26, 50.0 percent clip in the second half. Wagner held a 44-32 advantage in rebounds and grabbed 19 offensive boards. The team struggled from the foul line hitting 11-22 after starting out 1-9.

Kenny paced the Hawks with 14 points, while Marques Alston added 12 and Azarelli chipped in 10. The Hawks managed 39.7 percent from the floor and were held to 5-19 (.263) from three.

Wagner returns to action on Thursday at home vs Central Connecticut St. Game time is set for a 7:00 pm tip off.

~ wagnerathletics.com ~