Nov. 24, 2007
Box Score
Staten Island, NY - Junior guard Joey Mundweiler (Olathe, KS/ Olathe East) poured in a career-high 25 points and a stifling Wagner defense held Bucknell to 13 first-half points en route to a 64-55 victory.
The 13 points were the least allowed by the Seahawks in the five-year tenure of head coach Mike Deane. The previous low in a half allowed under Deane was 15 in the first half vs. American on Nov. 22, 2005, a 75-59 Seahawk victory.
The win, which came on the heels of Tuesday night's equally impressive 88-81 victory over William & Mary, improves the Seahawks' record to 3-2 on the season. With the loss, Bucknell, which was coming off a competitive 70-64 loss at No. 23 Villanova falls to 2-2.
In addition to his career-high offensive output, Mundweiler did a terrific defensive job on Bucknell guard John Griffin, the Bison's leading scorer at 16.3 ppg., who was held to nine points on 3-of-9 shooting. When Griffin hit a three-point jumper with 6:05 left in the first half, the Bison were within four points at 17-13. The Seahawks then went on a 12-0 run, holding the Bison scoreless over the final 6:05 of the half, to seize a commanding 29-13 halftime lead. Wagner's pressure defense held Bucknell to 5of-27 shooting, which is 18.5%.
Bucknell came out sharper in the second half and went on a 9-3 run to slice the deficit to 32-22 with 16:05 remaining in the game. The Bison were hanging tough, still within 10 points at 47-37, when senior guard Mark Porter (Atlantic City, NJ/ St. Augustine) nailed a three-point jumper with 6:41 left to play that built the lead back up to 13 at 50-37. The gritty Bison would draw as close as 57-50 with 1:31 left before senior power forward James Ulrich (Mr. Laurel, NJ/ Camden Catholic) sealed the game with a driving layup to make it 59-50 with 1:18 to go.
Porter finished with 12 points and dished out eight assists, giving him 18 assists in his last two games, as he had 10 assists vs. William & Mary. Ulrich chimed in with 11 points and six rebounds. Senior center Durell Vinson (Vineland, NJ/St. Augustine), who was coming off a career-high 27 points vs. William & Mary, was held to two points but did grab a game-high 13 rebounds.
Wagner out-shot Bucknell 40.4%-34.4% and won the battle of the boards, 41-36.
The Seahawks now embark on a two-game road swing vs. Ivy League teams. On Wednesday, the Seahawks travel to Brown for a 7:00 pm tip-off. On Saturday, Wagner is at Yale for another 7:00 pm contest.
