BOX SCORE / PHOTO GALLERY

Staten Island, NY - Playing before a national audience on MSG+ and Fox College Sports the Wagner Seahawks put on a three-point clinic, drilling a season-best 12 while shooting a blistering 57.1 percent from long range in an 81-53 dismantling of Saint Francis (PA) before 2,034 rowdy fans at the Spiro Sports Center. With the win, the Seahawks improve to 8-7 and a perfect 4-0 in the Northeast Conference (NEC) for the first time since the 2007-2008 season.



While the Wagner defense allowed the Red Flash (2-13; 0-4 NEC) to shoot 47.5 percent (19-40) from the floor, the Seahawks also forced a season-best 26 miscues. That led to a 34-21 advantage in points off turnovers while setting the tone for the night. Wagner also shot a blistering 51.8 percent (29-56) from the floor, including 57.1 percent (12-21) from beyond the arc while knocking down 11-of-13 (84.6 %) from the free throw line. Equally impressive was the fact that the Seahawks assisted on 24 of their 29 field goals, matching Monday's night's total for the second-most in the NEC this year.




Leading the Green & White attack was junior Tyler Murray (Toronto, Ontario / Eastern Commerce), who scored a game-high 20 points, on 7-of-11 shooting, including 4-of-6 from beyond the arc, despite playing a season-low 29 minutes. The Canadian native has now notched 20 points or more six times, including the last three games, and is averaging a NEC-best 17.7 points per game while shooting a league-best 52.9 percent (36-68) from beyond the arc.

Freshman Latif Rivers (Elizabeth, NJ / Avon Old Farms (CT)) and sophomore Josh Thompson (Richland, NJ / St. Augustine Prep) each notched 15 points, rounding out the double-digit scorers for Wagner. Junior Chris Martin (Sicklerville, NJ / Apex Academies) also had an outstanding game at the point, handing out a game and career-high 10 assists, against just two turnovers, with nine points while narrowly missing his first career double-double. Senior Cliff Spiller (Pleasantville, NJ / Holy Spirit) also had a solid game, scoring five points - highlighted by this impressive dunk - while matching Martin with a game-high five rebounds.



Over the first seven-plus minutes of the game it looked as if the Red Flash might be capable of pulling the upset as SFPA trailed by just one at 13-12 with 12:58 to play in the first half. Wagner responded with a game-changing 13-3 run over the next 5:14. Rivers got things rolling with a pair of three pointers. Kameron Ritter momentarily quelled the spurt with a triple of his own. Murray matched Ritter with a three of his own before he and Thompson each hit a pair from the line, making it 26-15 Seahawks with 7:06 until halftime. The Green & White capped the run by forcing three-straight turnovers that led to seven-straight points.

The Red Flash would continue to fight, cutting the deficit to six at 31-25 with 2:44 to play in the first. As has been the case in the team's four-game winning streak, Wagner responded with a 7-1 half-ending capped by a Murray three pointer with just two seconds to go in the half while staking the Seahawks to a 38-26 halftime lead.

SFPA cut the lead to 10 early in the second half at 41-31 after Will Felder split a pair at the line with 18:05 to play again forcing Wagner's hand. Thompson then began an 8-0 run with an alley-oop lay-up off a nice feed from Martin. Freshman Orlando Parker (Orlando, FL / Orlando Christian Prep) followed with an old-fashioned three-point play before Murray capped the spurt with a three pointer. All told the eight Seahawk points were the result of three Red Flash turnovers.

Following four SFPA free throws and a Felder three pointer, sandwiched between a Rivers jumper, the Red Flash cut the deficit to 13 at 51-38 with 12:21 to play and appeared to gaining some momentum. SFPA had the opportunity to further dent the lead but Felder was forced into a turnover and sophomore Danny Mundweiler (Overland Park, KS / Olathe East) maded the Red Flash pay with a three pointer before Martin followed with a three and Murray a jumper, extending the lead out to 21 at 59-38 with 9:01 to play. The Green & White would push the lead out 27 at an insurmountable 68-41 at the 7:15 mark following Thompson's second dunk of the night, capping a 19-5 run that for all intents and purposes put the SFPA away.

Wagner would extend the lead out to a game-high 30 following a #T.J. Czeski# (Amsterdam, NY / Amsterdam) lay-up en route to an 81-53 win.

All 12 Seahawks saw action with 10 of them finding the scoring column while freshman Brett Stewart (Stevensville, MD / Solebury) grabbed his first collegiate rebound.

Felder (13 points, 5 rebounds) and Ritter (11 points) led the way for Saint Francis (PA), which outrebounded Wagner 31-26.

The Seahawks will look to improve to 5-0 in the league when they play at local-rival St. Francis (NY) on Thursday, January 13 at 7:00 pm.