Feb. 5, 2007
Box Score
Staten Island, NY -The Wagner Men's Basketball team extended their winning streak to a season high three games after an 80-76 victory over Northeast Conference foe Sacred Heart at the Spiro Sports Center tonight. The winning streak has improved the Seahawks to 6-5 in the NEC and 9-13 overall. The Pioneers fell to 7-4 in the league and 11-11 on the year.
Led by a career high 24 points from junior James Ulrich (Mt. Laurel, NJ / Camden Catholic), who also added 10 rebounds for his fourth career double-double, the Seahawks scored 80 points for the fourth time in the last five games.
Wagner first took control behind Ulrich in the opening half using a 17-1 run that transposed to a 20-9 advantage at the 11:22 mark. The junior forward scored 12 of his 14 first half points in the five minute span. The lead remained at 11 (37-26) with three minutes left after a high flying put back dunk in traffic from sophomore Justin Drummond (Baltimore, MD / McDonogh). Sacred Heart would then cut back into the deficit as Chauncey Hardy's last second three left the halftime margin at six (41-35).
The Pioneers continued the drive in the second half closing to within one point at 46-45, following a Joey Henley four minutes into the period. Ulrich then answered the call again for Wagner scoring the next four points to push the lead back up to five. The Seahawks extend the margin back to 11 points with five minutes left on the game clock following a 14-5 stretch engineered by another six points inside from Ulrich and five points from sophomore Llewchean Radford (Newport News, VA / Heritage).
Sacred Heart made just one final push after the Seahawks used free throws from junior Mark Porter (Atlantic City, NJ / St. Augustine's Prep) to help gain a seven point lead (75-68) with 45 seconds left. Brice Brooks started off the charge with a three and after another three from Hardy the Wagner lead was all the way down to one (77-76) with a mere 14 seconds remaining. Sophomore Jamal Smith (Baltimore, MD / Towson Catholic) then iced the game hitting two more foul shots on the next Wagner possession.
Ulrich now has double figures in 10 consecutive games, Porter added 16 points and equaled a season best seven assists, giving him 301 dimes for his career. Smith followed with 11 points while senior Matt Vitale (Brooklyn, NY / St. Edmund's) made three trifectas to give him 151 for his career and 10 points for the night.
The Seahawks shot 48.3 percent for the game and held a 39-33 advantage in rebounding. Sacred Heart would shot 48.4 percent for the game as five players scored in double figures. Hardy (16 points) and Brooks (15 points) led the way off the bench for the Pioneers.
Wagner is back in action at home on Thursday when they host Monmouth at 7:00 pm.
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