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Staten Island, NY - Wagner (9-9; 5-2 NEC) will look to make it back-to-back wins when the Seahawks welcome Sacred Heart (7-11; 2-5 NEC) to the Spiro Sports Center.  

WITH A WIN ...
Wagner would sweep the season-series from Sacred Heart while doubling last year's overall win total of five and conference victory total of three.

SETTING THE SCENE
Wagner picked up a hard-fought 90-80 win over Quinnipiac on Thursday while collecting the all-important tiebreaker over the Bobcats thanks to a season-sweep over the preseason NEC champion. Making it that much sweeter was that the Seahawks were tabbed to finish 11th.

RIVERS GOES OFF
Freshman Latif Rivers led Wagner to a scintillating 90-80 win over Quinnipiac with a career-best 30 points. After scoring just four points, on 2-of-18 shooting, over the last two games, the rookie guard responded with a vengance while becoming the first Seahawk freshman to hit for 30 points since Courtney Pritchard did so back on February 15, 2001 vs. St. Francis (NY). Rivers went 7-of-12 from the floor, including 4-of-6 from long range, while converting all 12 of his free throw attempts.

RAISE UP
On the strength of his career-best 12-of-12 performance from the line, freshman Latif Rivers, who converted his first 31 collegiate free throws, is now tied for the National Lead in free throw percentage at 94.7 percent (72-76) with Chris Warren of Mississippi.

NATIONAL RANKINGS
Also standing out in the National Rankings for Wagner is junior Tyler Murray, who is 71st in scoring (17.7 ppg) and 96th in free throw percentage (.833) while freshman Naofall Folahan is 76th with a NEC-best 1.8 blocks per game.  As a team,  the Seahawks are ranked 11th in the nation in free throw shooting (.772) and 19th in three-point field-goal percentage (.401).

IF WAGNER WERE ...
To finish with a three-point percentage of at least 40.0 percent, the Seahawks would become the first conference team since Robert Morris to notch that figure since the 1993-1994 season.

QUINNIPIAC KILLER
Freshman Latif Rivers averaged a team-leading 21.0 points and 5.5 assists per game over Wagner's two wins against Quinnipiac while shooting 53.8 percent (7-13) from beyond the arc and 93.8 percent (15-16) from the line.

WAGNER IS ...
4-0 when freshman Latif Rivers leads the team in scoring and 4-1 when the first-year guard scores at least 20 points.  Rivers' five 20-point games are also the most by a Wagner rookie since Jermaine Hall notched eight and Dedrick Dye six during the 1999-2000 season.

IN THE 90-80 WIN OVER QUINNIPIAC, WAGNER ...
Handed the Bobcats back-to-back losses for the first time this year ... Set season-highs for points (90), three point percentage (.667), field goal percentage (.579) and free throws (36) ... The 36 free throws,which are the most by a NEC team this year,is also the highest total by a Wagner team since the Seahawks drained 36 in a 79-73 loss to Quinnipiac back on February 8, 2001 ... Ironically enough, the season-high 36 free throws and 44 free throw attempts come one game after the Green & White set season-lows for free throws (8) and free throw attempts (12) against St. Francis (NY) ... Wagner also had five players notch double-figures in points for the first time since an 82-70 win over ... Quinnipiac back on February 11, 2008.

IN THE TWO WINS VS. QUINNIPIAC ...
Wagner converted a blistering 53.8 percent (21-39) from beyond the arc against the defending NEC Regular Season champion Bobcats. The Seahwaks hit 11 threes (out of 24) in the first meeting before hitting 10 (out of 15) in the second match-up. The Green & White also converted 12-of-21 (57.9 %) from the floor in the second half of the first meeting before making good on 12-of-20 in the second stanza in the most recent victory. Included in that outstanding shooting performance was that Wagner went 15-of-21 (71.4 %) from the floor on two-point attempts after halftime.

LOOKING FOR CONSISTENCY
Wagner was 10-of-15 (66.7 %) from beyond the arc in the win over Quinnipiac after going just 3-of-21 (14.3 %) over the previous two games, both losses.

SEAHAWKS LIKE THE BRIGHT LIGHTS
Wagner's 90-80 win over Quinnipiac was brought to a local audience thanks to Time Warner Cable. The game with the Bobcats marked the eighth time this season the Seahawks played on television with Wagner posting a 5-3 record during that time. Additionally, the Green & White are 3-1 when playing on TWC.

MURRAY GOOD LUCK CHARM?
That assistant coach Luke Murray has been a part of four Wagner-Quinnipiac games with the Seahawks claiming all four. While a member of the 2007-2008 Bobcats' staff, the Seahawks won both meetings en route to a school-record 23 victories before assisting the Seahawks on both wins this season.

THE OTHER MURRAY
Junior Tyler Murray notched double-digits for the 17th time this season in 18 games, scoring 13 points on a season-low six shots from the floor. The NEC's second-leading scorer at 17.7 ppg showcased his team-first attitude by deferring to freshman Latif Rivers, who scored a career-best 30 points.

SPILLER SETS CAREER-HIGH
Senior Cliff Spiller notched a career-high 10 points while shooting 3-of-4 from the floor and 4-of-6 from the line en route to recording double-figures in scoring for the first time in his career (98 games). On the year, he is averaging 2.1 points and 2.2 rebounds per game.

MARTIN REBOUNDS
After failing to notch double-digits in each of the last four games, junior Chris Martin exploded for 16 points, on 4-of-6 shooting from long range, in the 90-80 win over Quinnipiac.

OP KEEP ITS UP
Freshman Orlando Parker notched double-digits for the third-straight game while leading the team in rebounding for a team-best sixth time on the year in the 90-80 win over Quinnipiac, finishing with 10 points and five rebounds. The rookie forward is averaging 9.8 points and 7.4 rebounds while shooting an even 50.0 percent (20-40) from the floor during that time.

COACHING MATCH-UP
Head coach Dan Hurley is 9-9 (4-2 NEC) in his first season and will be squaring off with Dave Bike, who is currently in his 33rd year while sporting a 502-454 record.

DID YOU KNOW?
Today's game features two former professional athletes in assistant coach Bobby Hurley and Sacred Heart head coach Dave Bike. Hurley played five seasons in the NBA for the Sacramento Kings and the Vancouver Grizzlies while Bike was a catcher in the Detroit Tigers system for eight years from 1965-1972.

SCOUTING SACRED HEART
Sacred Heart is led by the guard tandem of sophomore Shane Gibson (16.2 ppg, 4.0 rpg) and senior Jerrell  Thompson (13.1 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 3.3 apg). In the first meeting, a Wagner 73-68 OT win, Gibson scored 17 and Thompson 13. Added into the mix is freshman guard Chris Evans (8.9 ppg), who missed the first meeting due to injury.

DID YOU KNOW???
Wagner and Sacred Heart are the only teams in the NEC to not have a player included in the league top-20 rebounding leaders. The Pioneers rank ninth in rebounding offense (32.9 rpg), but first in rebounding defense (32.9 rpg). Ironically enough, the team has 592 rebounds while allowing the opposition exactly 592 caroms. Wagner is last in rebounding offense (29.6 rpg) and rebounding defense (37.4 rpg).

THE SERIES
Wagner leads the all-time series by a 14-11 margin while winning the last two meetings. The teams have developed a nice little rivaly over the past few years. In 2005-2006, the Green & White were fresh off a near-upset of UCLA only to have Pioneers best the Seahawks twice in a week while sending the Seahawks into a freefall. In 2006-2007, the Wagner bested Sacred Heart early in the season before getting throttled in the first round of the Tournament. Then in 2007-2008, Wagner won a school-record 23 games - highlighted by a 100-92 double-overtime victory over Sacred Heart on NEC television - before dropping a heartbreaking 55-49 decision to the Pioneers at home in the NEC semifinals.  The following year, Sacred Heart rallied from a nine-point second half deficit for a 68-64 road victory at the Spiro Spors Center. Last year, the Pioneers blasted the Seahawks 75-59 in the first match-up of the season before falling in the rematch in the final seconds by a 74-73 score.

SHUBIK RETURNS TO THE SPIRO
Drew Shubik, a familiar name to Wagner fans, has returned to serve as an assistant coach at Sacred Heart. A former Second Team All-NEC selection, Shubik was a part of two of the most exciting games in the Spiro Sports Center over the past few years. In the Seahawks' thrilling double overtime 100-92 overtime victory Shubik, a 76.1 percent shooter as a senior, missed what would have been the game-winning free throw at the end of regulation before misfiring on a three-point attempt at the end of the first overtime while allowing the Green & White to capture the victory. Shubik then had a measure of revenge in the NEC Tournament, notching 13 points, 14 rebounds and six assists in a 55-49 victory while catapulting Sacred Heart to the NEC Final.

LAST TIME VS. SACRED HEART
Wagner erased a five-point deficit with just 47 seconds remaining to force overtime before outscoring Sacred Heart 13-8 during extra time en route to a 73-68 victory at the Pitt Center. Junior Tyler Murray scored a then career-high 23 points while pulling down a game-high 10 rebounds for his second double-double in three games. Freshman Latif Rivers added 21 points as the pair finished up with 44 points, on 11-of-26 shooting, including 7-of-16 from beyond the arc, and 15-of-17 from the free throw line. The rest of the team had just 29 points on 9-of-28 shooting (.321), including 2-of-11 (.181) from beyond the arc.

NEED FOR THREE
Wagner is 0-4 this year when hitting on two three pointers or less and 0-3 when converting on 25.0 percent or less of its three-point attempts.

OP CONTINUES STRONG PLAY
Despite the 30-point loss at LIU, freshman Orlando Parker continued his strong play, notching 10 points and a game-high 10 rebounds for his second double-double of the year.

TYLER TEARING UP THE NEC
Junior Tyler Murray leads the NEC in scoring (17.7 ppg) and three-point shooting, connecting on 50.6 percent (40-79) from beyond the arc. Murray also ranks among the league-leaders in free throws made (2.2 3's/game) (t-5th NEC), free throw shooting (.833) (t-9th NEC), assists (3.2 apg) (15th NEC), assist to turnover ratio (1.0) (15th NEC) defensive rebounds (4.1 drpg) (11th NEC) and minutes played (37.3 mpg) (2nd NEC).

LATIF NO SLOUCH
Freshman Latif Rivers might not be the main headliner on the Wagner Seahawks but he is drawing the attention of the league, ranking second among a strong freshman class in scoring (13.9 ppg) (12th NEC) while also pacing the nation in free throw percentage (.947). He is also among the league leaders in three's per game (2.1 3's/game) (8th NEC), three point percentage (.374) (12th NEC) and minutes played (32.7 mpg) (11th NEC).

FOUL TROUBLE
Wagner was whistled for a season-high 34 fouls in loss at St. Francis (NY), leading to 49 Terrier free throws. The 34 infractions were the most since being called for 35 in an overtime loss at Indiana State on December 21, 2006. The Seahawks have not been whistled for that many fouls in a regulation game since before the 1996-1997 season. Three players fouled out against the Terriers while four others had four fouls.

FOUL TROUBLE X2
The Seahawks did not allow the opposition into the double-bonus (10 fouls) for the first time all year in the win at Quinnipiac. In 36 halves of play, Wagner has commited at least 10 fouls 31 times. Thus far, the Green & White is committing an average of 6.1 more fouls than the opposition while ranking 335th with a NCAA-high 25.8 fouls per game. For comparison's sake, Florida is averaging a NCAA-low 13.8 fouls per game. The Seahawks have also been whistled for at least 30 fouls in three-straight games and four times on the year.

DAN HURLEY QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“We considered a lot of different things to try and get Latif going ... But the bottom line is he believes in himself, and has the ability to step into pressurized situations like tonight and not hesitate.”
Head coach Dan Hurley on freshman Latif Rivers' 30-point outburst in the win over Quinnipiac following his four-point, 2-for-18 performance in losses at SFNY and LIU.

3-POINT CONSISTENCY
“Live By The Three, Die By The Three.” That phrase is often uttered when perimeter oriented teams are discussed. This year's Wagner team is no exception to the rule as the Seahawks' top three scorers are all guards. However, the Green & White have shown uncanny consistency from beyond the arc, hitting on at least 40.0 percent of its attempts in nine of its 18 games.

TWITTER
Fans can follow the action of today's game on the Wagner twitter account by clicking HERE

UP NEXT
Wagner heads to Bryant for its only meeting of the season with the Bulldogs. Tip time is slated for 7:00 pm on Thursday, January 27.