BOX SCORE

New Britain, CT - Wagner nearly erased a 24-point second half deficit before falling to Central Connecticut State by a 75-71 count in Northeast Conference (NEC) action at Detrick Gym. The Blue Devils improve to 14-7 and 7-3 in the NEC while assuming control of second place in the league as the Seahawks fall to 10-11 and 6-4 in the NEC.

CCSU appeared to have the game sewn up early in the second half, holding a 64-43 lead with 9:32 to play. Wagner proceeded to rip off nine-straight points, drawing to 12 at 64-52 with 6:26 to play following sophomore Danny Mundweiler's (Overland Park, KS / Olathe East) only three pointer of the game. After Devan Bailey momentarily quelled the momentum with a pair from the line, junior Tyler Murray (Toronto, Ontario / Eastern Commerce) drilled a triple of his own while sparking a personal 9-2 run that included two three pointers and an old-fashioned three-point play from the Canadian native, cutting the Blue Devil lead to single digits at 68-61 with 2:47 to play.

Robby Ptacek made it a nine-point game with a pair from the line before each team traded baskets. Wagner then missed a jumper, only to get the ball back on an errant pass from Shemik Thompson. Murray took advantage with a jumper, making it a 72-65 with 1:02 left to play. After a pair of CCSU turnovers, freshman Latif Rivers (Elizabeth, NJ / Avon Old Farms (CT))hit a lay-up off a steal from Ptaeck, slicing what was a 24-point deficit to five with just 27 seconds remaining. On the ensuing possession, Shemik Thompson overshot his man for his fourth turnover over the final two minutes of the game and sophomore Josh Thompson (Richland, NJ / St. Augustine Prep) corralled the steal with 18 seconds on the clock. However, Thompson fired a cross-court pass out of bounds that for all intents and purposes ended the Green & White's hopes of a monumental comeback as the Blue Devils held on for the 75-71 victory.

Wagner mounted a 24-8 run in the second half, slicing a 21-point deficit to five and went 10-of-17 from the floor over the final 8:08 of the game. Defensively, the Seahawks allowed CCSU to convert just one field goal over the final 14:52 of the game as the Blue Devils were pressured into 10-straight missed shots before they made good on their attempt of the game. Additionally, Wagner forced CCSU into 13 turnovers during that time over the final 14:52, including five during the last two minutes of the game.

For the half, the Seahawks pressured the Blue Devils into 15 turnovers, leading to a 24-11 advantage in points off turnovers. CCSU was able to hold off the Green & White by converting 18-of-21(85.7 %) from the line after halftime, finishing the game 27-of-34 (79.4 %) as Wagner went to the line a season-low matching 12 times, converting 10 (83.3 %).

The Seahawks shot 51.5 percent (17-33) in the second half, including 50.0 percent (5-10) from beyond the arc, en route to 45.0 percent (27-60) shooting for the game, including 38.9 percent (7-18) from deep. Murray personified the Green & White attack, scoring 19 of his team-best 20 points after halftime while finishing 7-of-18 from the floor and 3-of-8 from beyond the arc en route to his team-leading eighth 20-point game of the year.

Freshman Orlando Parker (Orlando, FL / Orlando Christian Prep) matched his career-high with 15 points, on 7-of-10 shooting, with 10 rebounds for his third double-double of the year. The Sunshine State native has now notched double-figures in scoring in each of the last six games, averaging 11.7 points and a team-best 8.2 rebounds per game while shooting 51.9 percent (27-52) from the floor during that time.

Rounding out the double-figure scorers for Wagner were Rivers (12 points) and freshman Naofall Folahan (Benin Republic / Wilbraham and Monson Academy (MA)) (10 points).

Ptacek led the way for the Blue Devils, scoring a game-high 25 points while converting 6-of-10 from the floor, including 3-of-5 from beyond the arc, and a perfect 10-of-10 from the line while grabbing six rebounds. Ken Horton was held to 13 points, on 5-of-15 shooting, with six rebounds and four assists. Rounding out the double-digit scorers for CCSU was Joe Efese, who had 12 points and seven rebounds.

In the first half, the Seahawks came roaring out of the gates while scoring the game's first six-straight points for the second-straight outing as Parker notched the first eight Green & White points en route to helping build an 8-2 lead. The teams then traded baskets before the Blue Devils ripped off 14-straight points en route to an 18-10 lead at the 11:08 mark of the first half. Folahan briefly quelled the spurt with a lay-up before the Blue Devils used a 7-2 run, extending the lead out to 12 at 26-14 with 8:55 to play, before heading into halftime with a 44-27 advantage.

Wagner shot just 37.0 percent (10-27), including 25.0 percent (2-8) from beyond the arc, in the opening stanza while CCSU converted 46.9 percent (15-32) from the floor, including 38.5 percent (5-13) from long range.

Dan Hurley, his assistant coaches and the entire Seahawk support staff wore Under Armour sneakers as part of the Coaches vs. Cancer Suits and Sneakers Awareness Weekend (1/28-1/30), helping bring support for the American Cancer Society and its vision of a world with less cancer and more birthdays.For the entire release click HERE

The Seahawks return to action on Thursday, February 3 at 7:00 pm when they host Fairleigh Dickinson at 7:00 pm in the Spiro Sports Center.