Feb. 24, 2007

Box Score

Staten Island, NY - Junior James Ulrich (Mt. Laurel, NJ / Camden Catholic) scored a career high 28 points to lead the Wagner College Seahawks to a 91-63 rout of visiting Fairleigh Dickinson at the Sprio Sports Center. The win clinched a berth in the upcoming Northeast Conference Tournament for the Seahawks which improve to 8-9 in the NEC and 11-17 overall. The Knights fall to 9-8 in the league and 14-14 on the year.

Ulrich posted his sixth double-double of the year adding 10 rebounds to his 28 points while shooting 12-12 from the foul line. Classmate Mark Porter (Atlantic City, NJ / St. Augustine's Prep) also had a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds while handing out eight assists.

Trailing by one at the intermission, the Seahawks fell behind 37-34 after Andre Harris scored on the first possession of the second half for FDU. Wagner then caught fire and ripped off a 20-4 run over the next six minutes. Sophomore Joey Mundweiler (Olathe, KS / Olathe East) did the damage from the outside hitting a pair of threes and scoring eight points in the stretch which put the Seahawks up 54-41 following a three from Porter at 14:15.

The Knights remained alive scoring six straight points in the next two minutes, but an Ulrich jumper ended the Wagner drought as the Seahawks continued to pile up the points. The lead would extend to as many as 32 (91-59) before all was said and done.

The Seahawks shot 58.3 percent in the second half and ended the game hitting on 49.2 percent from the field. Mundweiler was also in double figures with 17 points as was sophomore Jamal Smith (Baltimore, MD / Towson Catholic) who finished with 13. Wagner hit a season best 20-22 (90.9 percent) from the foul line and added 17 steals

In the opening half FDU built up a 21-11 advantage following a 9-2 run with 11 minutes remaining in the first period. The Seahawks would come right back behind the inside game of Ulrich as his eight points led a 19-8 charge. The Mt. Laurel, NJ native completed the run with a basket at 3:03 that gave Wagner its first lead of the contest at 30-29. The lead would then change hands five times before the half which ended with the Knights up 35-34 after two free throws from Cameron Tyler in the final second.

Playing in his final home game senior Matt Vitale (Brooklyn, NY / St. Edmund's Prep) was honored before the game. The NEC Tournament appearance marks the sixth time in seven years the Seahawks have qualified for the post season affair.

Matt Vitale was honored before the game

Tyler had 16 points in the first half and ended the game with a team high 18 points for FDU. The Knights shot 35.6 percent for the game and shot just 3-18 from three.

The Seahawks end the regular season on Monday at Central Connecticut St. The NEC Tournament starts on Thursday with the four highest seeds hosting first round games.

~wagnerathletics.com ~