FINAL STATS

Loretto, PA – Wagner shot a blistering 68 percent from the floor in building a 13-point halftime lead and extended the lead to 17 points before withstanding a late Saint Francis (PA) rally in posting a 76-68 NEC victory. 

With the win, the Seahawks improve to 10-6 on the season in evening their NEC record at 3-3 while the Red Flash fell to 4-12, 1-5 in NEC play. 

Fifith-year senior forward Jamal Smith (Baltimore, MD/ Towson Catholic) scored all 14 of his points in the first half on 6-of-9 shooting as Wagner raced out to a 40-27 halftime bulge. The Seahawks opened up their biggest lead of the game of 17 at 56-39 on a pair of free throws by senior forward Llew Radford (Newport News, VA/ Heritage) with 12:59 left to play. 

Saint Francis (PA) countered with an 8-0 run to cut the deficit to nine at 56-47 on a layup by Devin Sweetney with 9:47 left in the game. Seahawk freshman guard Tyler Murray (Toronto, Ontario/ Eastern Commerce) then drilled a three-pointer to put the lead back to 12 at 59-47 with 8:26 left. The Red Flash then embarked on a 12-6 spurt to draw to within six points at 65-59 on a three-point jumper by Devin Sweetney with 2:14 remaining in the game. 

Fifth-year senior guard Joey Mundweiler (Olathe, KS/ Olathe East) then delivered the dagger, a clutch three-point jumper in transition from the left wing with 1:41 to go that put the Seahawks back up nine at 68-59. Wagner salted the game away by making eight consecutive free throws down the stretch. Redshirt junior guard Doug Elwell (Monsignor Farrell/ Staten Island, NY) drained a pair of free throws with 49 seconds left that made it 70-62 and the final six were made by fifth-year senior guard Justin Drummond (Baltimore, MD/ McDonogh). 

Wagner placed four players in double figures, led by Mundweiler's 17, including a 2-of-5 effort from three-point range. Drummond played a solid floor game with 15 points, six rebounds, five assists, two blocks and three steals , while committing just one turnover. Smith was next with his 14 points while Radford added 13 points and six rebounds. Elwell delivered a fine eight-point performance off the bench, highlighted by a pair of deep three-point jumpers in the first half. 

Saint Francis (PA) was paced by sturdy 6-7 post man Mislav Jukic, who led all scorers with 22 points. Sweetney, who missed the last six games after suffering a fractured left (non-shooting) hand on Dec. 6, chipped in with 13 points and eight rebounds. The Red Flash have now lost seven straight games.
Wagner out-shot Saint Francis (PA) 54%-48% while the Red Flash won the rebounding battle, 27-26. 

The Seahawks complete their two-game western Pennsylvania road swing at Robert Morris on Saturday at 7:00 pm.