Feb. 15, 2008
Final Stats
Staten Island, NY - Senior guard Mark Porter (Atlantic City, NJ/ St. Augustine Prep) scored a career-high 28 points to lead Wagner to a pulsating 100-92 victory over Sacred Heart as the Seahawks gained a share of first place in the Northeast Conference in front a of a deafening, capacity crowd of 1,787 fans and a live television audience watching on the MSG Network.
In recording its third consecutive overtime victory in the past week, Wagner improved to 18-6, 11-2 in the NEC, tied with Robert Morris (which defeated Central Connecticut State 80-74) for first place in the conference. With the defeat, Sacred Heart fell to 14-11 on the season, 11-3 in the NEC. The win gives Wagner a sweep of the season series and ended the Pioneer's eight-game winning streak.
Porter scored eight of his 28 points in the second overtime session. Junior guard Joey Mundweiler (Olathe, KS/ Olathe East) tallied six points in the second-OT as he and senior forward James Ulrich (Mt. Laurel, NJ/ Camden Catholic) scored 18 points apiece. Ulrich played a terrific floor game, shooting 8-9 from the field while pulling down nine rebounds.
Senior center Durell Vinson (Atlantic City, NJ/ Vineland, NJ) had 17 points and a game-high 14 rebounds for his ninth double-double of the season and 23rd of his career. In the process, he entered the Wagner all-time top 10 in career rebounds, passing Jermaine Hall (1999-2003) and into 10th place with 786 career rebounds.
Brice Brooks led Sacred Heart (14-11, 11-3) with 21 points, while Corey Hassan added 15 points and 10 rebounds. Sacred Heart's Drew Shubik made one of two free throws with second seconds remaining to send the game into the first overtime tied at 72-72.Hassan's jumper with 46 seconds to play forced the second overtime and knotted the game 84-84.
Led by Porter, Wagner took command in the second overtime, out-scoring the Pioneers 16-8. Vinson's lay-up with 3:05 remaining gave the Seahawks the lead for good.
The game, which began at a rather pedestrian pace that saw Wagner take a 33-28 halftime lead, kicked into high gear in the second half with both teams taking and making acrobatic shots. In a contest that featured more than its share of twists, turns and wild momentum swings, there it took 12 ties and 16 lead changes before it was decided.
Over the span of the three straight overtime games, which had not occurred at Wagner since 1975-76, Porter is averaging 23.7 points, 5.0 and 5.4 assists while playing an average 44.7 minutes in each game.
The Seahawks will not have much time to rest on its laurels as Wagner hosts Monmouth on Saturday. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m.
