ON THE AIR
Working today's game for MSG will be NEC Broadcasting icon Paul Dottino with former Wagner student-athlete, coach and current NBA Broadcaster Tim Capstraw providing the color with Tara Petrolino handling the sideline reporting. The Seahawks are 5-4 in televised games, including a perfect 2-0 on MSG+.

SENIOR DAY
Prior to the game, the Green & White will holds its annual Senior Day festivities. Being honored will be manager Andrew Ciampaglio, #T.J. Czeski#, Clayfell Harris and Cliff Spiller.

DESPITE THAT ...
Wagner is still tied for fourth in the NEC and if the playoffs were to start today would be hosting Robert Morris in the Spiro Sports Center.

FRESHMEN COME ALIVE
For the second time this year each member of the freshmen trio of Naofall Folahan, Orlando Parker and Latif Rivers notched double-figures in scoring against LIU. The threesome combined for 45 points on 18-of-34 shooting, including 22 of Wagner's 28 first-half points. Previously, the first three Dan Hurley recruits had all scored in double-digits at CCSU.

FOLAHAN & PARKER TEAMING UP
The first four times freshman Naofall Folahan recorded double-figures in scoring, classmate Orlando Parker had scored just 19 total points on 9-of-23 shooting from the floor. Against LIU, Folahan notched 15 points, on 5-of-6 shooting from the floor and 5-of-8 shooting from the charity stripe, while Parker also had a solid game, hitting for 12 points, on 6-of-10 shooting, with three blocks.

SEAHAWKS HITTING ON ALL CYLINDERS
Against NEC-leading LIU, the Wagner offense recorded a season-best 32 field goals and 25 assists while almost upsetting the Blackbirds. Additionally all five starters hit for double-figures in scoring led by freshman Latif Rivers' 18 points.

UNFORTUNATELY
The Seahawks hit a season-low seven free throws while going to the line just 11 times, compared to a 31-for-43 (72.1 %) showing by LIU. Also, the Green & White failed to convert a free throw attempt in the first half for the first time all season.

THE LAST EIGHT
While Wagner ranks ninth in the nation and first among all NEC teams, the Seahawks have had each one of their last eight opponents hit on at least 72.1 percent of their free throws. Remarkably, just one of those seven teams (CCSU) is shooting above 70.0 percent for the year. During that time, Wagner is converting 77.8 percent (119-153) while its opposition is making good on 76.9 percent (190-247). Over the first seven NEC Games, the Seahawks made 76.9 percent (133-173) from the line while their opponents converted 65.7 percent (151-230).

MARTIN MAKING IT RAIN
Junior Chris Martin drained four three pointers and scored 14 of his 16 points after halftime in the game against LIU. The Sickleverille, NJ product converted his biggest bucket of the night with just under four seconds remaining in tying the game up at 71-71 to send it to overtime. Martin also notched six rebounds and six assists while turning the ball over just three times. He is now averaging 13.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg and 4.0 apg while shooting 50.0 percent from the floor (8-16) and from beyond the arc (4-8) while notching double-figures in his last two games after failing to do so once over the previous four games ... recording just 18 points (4.5 ppg) while shooting 22.6 percent (7-31) from the floor and 16.7 percent (3-18) from beyond the arc.

PICK 6
Against LIU, junior Tyler Murray and freshman Latif Rivers each recorded six rebounds and six assists . Junior Chris Martin also grabbed six rebounds while sophomore Josh Thompson handed out a career-best six assists.

TYLER CONSISTENTLY CONSISTENT
Junior Tyler Murray has upped his scoring average by 7.9 ppg from last year thanks to hitting double-figures in 25 of the 26 Wagner games en route to ranking second in the circuit in scoring at 16.7 ppg. Over the last two games, the Canadian native is averaging 14.0 ppg, 6.0 apg and 4.0 rpg while turning the ball over just three times in 75 minutes of action. He is also shooting 52.4 percent (11-21) from the floor after converting just 32. 8 percent (20-61) over the previous four games.

OP
While freshman Latif Rivers leads all first-year Wagner players in double-figure scoring games, it is classmate Orlando Parker that has begun to lay claim as the second most consistent rookie. After failing to hit for double-figures in two-straight games against FDU and Monmouth, the Orlando native has hit for double-digits in three-straight games and 9-of-11. During that time he is averaging 10.0 ppg and 6.2 rpg and for the year has notched averages of 7.0 ppg and 5.0 rpg (19th NEC).

RIVERS PEAKING
Freshman Latif Rivers has scored in double-figures 19 times in Wagner's first 26 games, including all but two NEC games. The two came in back-to-back outings at St. Francis (NY) and LIU, scoring a combined four points, on 2-of-18 shooting (.111), including misfiring on all seven three-point attempts. He rebounded the next time out for a career-best 30 points in a 10-point win over Quinnipiac and has notched double-figures in each of the last nine games. Rivers had a measure of revenge against the Blackbirds, scoring a team-best 18 points with six rebounds and five assists in the rematch.

CLAY COMES UP BIG
After scoring just four points over the past 10 games, junior Clayfell Harris scored four points in just seven minutes in a narrow loss to LIU.

SETTING THE SCENE
Wagner (13-13; 9-5 NEC) will be looking a measure of revenge St. Francis (NY) as the Terriers bested the Seahawks by a 72-56 count in Brooklyn Heights, NY back on January 13. Junior Tyler Murray (20 points) and freshman Orlando Parker (13 points) were the only double-digit performers for the Green & White, who converted just 35.7 percent from the floor, including 1-of-13 from beyond the arc.  Senior Ricky Cadell had 23 points while junior Stefan Perunicic notched 16 points as the Terriers also converted 33-of-49 from the line.

THE SERIES
St. Francis (NY) leads the all-time series by a 46-37 count and has won four-straight meetings dating back to the 2008-2009 season. In the last three Terrier victories, Cadell is averaging 21.3 ppg while going for at least 20 twice.

X4
Since only placing two players in double-figures in losses at SFNY and LIU in early January, Wagner has had at least four players record double-figures in scoring in eight of the Seahawks' last nine games.

SCOUTING THE TERRIERS
St. Francis (NY) is led by the senior duo of Cadell (15.2 ppg, 3.6 rpg) and Akeem Bennett (13.7 ppg, 5.7 rpg) while sophomore Akeem Johnson (9.2 ppg, 5.3 rpg) and Perunicic (9.0 ppg, 2.4 rpg) are the other top performers for first-year coach Glenn Braicia, who is 12-14 and 7-8 in the NEC.

LOOKING TO REBOUND
Wagner had its three-game home winning streak snapped by LIU the last time out and will look to close out the regular season with a 9-4 mark (7-2 NEC) in the Spiro Sports Center with a victory after going just 2-11 (2-7 NEC) a year ago.

LOOKING TO SQUARE UP
Despite being mired in a six-game slump beyond the arc in which the Seahawks are shooting just 29.4 percent (35-119) from beyond the arc, including failing to hit at least 40.0 percent in any one of those games, the Green & White continue to lead the league in three-point percentage (.375). Wagner will look to snap its recent funk against a SFNY team that has the league's fourth-best three-point defense at 32.7 percent. In the team's first meeting, the Seahawks connected on just 1-of-13 from long range and are 2-7 when failing to convert at least six. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Wagner is 6-2 during conference play when converting at least eight.

COACH DAN HURLEY
Head coach Dan Hurley is 13-13 (9-6 NEC) and will be squaring off with a rookie coach for the eighth time this year and is just 2-5 (2-2 NEC) against fellow first-year mentors. However, Hurley is 11-8 against returning coaches and is just one victory away from the Wagner record of 14 wins by a first-year Seahawk coach.

RIVERS DELIVERS THE DAGGER
In Wagner's 70-65 win over Mount St. Mary's, freshman Latif Rivers scored eight of his 10 points after halftime - including sinking four free throws in the final minute to help close out the victory. In the Seahawks' nine NEC wins, the Elizabeth, NJ native is averaging a team-best 5.2 ppg while shooting 57.9 percent (11-19) over the game's final five minutes - including converting 91.7 percent (22-24) from the line. Additionally in the final minute of Wagner's 26 games, he shooting 50.0 percent (11-22) from the floor and 88.5 percent (23-26) from the line.

HEAVY LIFTING
The Wagner guard trio of Tyler Murray (37.2 mpg) (2nd), Latif Rivers (33.4 mpg) (9th) and Chris Martin (28.9 mpg) (21st) all rank among the top-21 in the NEC in minutes played.

KILLING IT FROM THE LINE
As a team, Wagner ranks ninth nationally and first in the league in free throw percentage at 77.4 percent, after making 61.1 percentage a year ago. The Seahawks have drained at least 80.0 percent from the line eight times during NEC play, going 6-2 during that time.

CLOSE GAMES = THE HURLEY WAY
Wagner's stout free throw shooting has helped the Seahawks to 10-5 record in games decided by five points or less, including 7-3 during NEC play. In a 61-57 win over FDU, the Seahawks came out on top against the Knights thanks to an 11-3 game-ending run.

AFTER ...
Notching its two worst shooting games of the year vs. Monmouth (.333) and Mount St. Mary's (.340), the Wagner Seahawks shot a season-high 66.7 percent (12-18) in the second half against the Mountaineers en route to a 48.9 percent (22-45) showing and over the last two games are making good on 48.2 percent of their shots.

MAGIC NUMBER 14
Wagner lost for just the second time this year when handing out at least 14 assists against LIU, falling to 11-2, including 7-2 during NEC-play, when hitting the magic number. On the year, the Green & White are averaging 14.3 assists per game, ranking fourth in the league. During league games, the assist average jumps to a NEC-best 15.3 apg.

HURLEY BROTHERS FEATURED ON MSG'S THE GAME 365
Head coach Dan Hurley and assistant coach Bobby Hurley were recently featured on MSG's The Game 365, hosted by Fran Healy.

KEEP IT CLOSE
Wagner fell to 2-6 in games decided by 10 points or more in its 14-point loss at Mount St. Mary's.

TAKING IT DOWN A NOTCH
Wagner has committed fewer fouls than the opposition twice in the last seven games after failing to do so once in the first 19 games. The Seahawks had 20 fouls, compared to just 21 at Mount St. Mary's after committing 17 infranctions against 23 fouls for Bryant. Wagner committed a season-low 16 fouls in the 61-57 win over FDU, marking just the first time on the season and just the second time the Seahawks kept it under 20.

NEC ON THE UP AND UP
The NEC is currently the 19th ranked conference according to the RPI rankings which is the league's highest ranking since the 1995-1996 season when the conference checked in at 18. That year Monmouth secured a No. 13 seed in the NCAA Tourney.

HURLEY'S PLAYERS IN THE RANKINGS
It should come as no surprise that freshman Latif Rivers ranks fifth in the nation in free throw percentage (.919) (102-111) as head coach Dan Hurley also coached the second-ranked free throw shooter in the nation, Nova's Corey Stokes (.935) (72-77).

ALSO IN THE RANKINGS
Junior Tyler Murray is second in the NEC and 109th nationally in scoring (16.7 ppg).

DOUBLE-DIGITS X5
Wagner placed five players in double-digits for the third time this year against LIU after previously not doing so since an 82-70 win over Quinnipiac back on February 11, 2008.

CHANGING IT UP
Wagner, which was outscored 27-12 in second chance points in the first meeting with LIU, won that category in the rematch by a 16-4 margin.

TYLER TEARING UP THE NEC
Junior Tyler Murray is second in the NEC in scoring (16.7 ppg), third in three-point percentage (.421) (53-126), ninth in three pointers (2.0 3's/game), eighth free throw percentage (.823), 12th in steals (1.3 spg), 14th in assists (3.5 apg) and second in minutes (37.2 mpg).

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 first among a strong freshman class in scoring (14.6 ppg) (8th NEC) while leading the league and ranking fifth nationally in free throw percentage (.919) (102-111). He is also among the league leaders in three's per game (2.1 3's/game) (7th NEC), three point percentage (.365) (15th NEC) and minutes played (33.4 mpg) (9th NEC).

THE TYLER & LATIF SHOW
In the overtime win over Robert Morris, junior Tyler Murray and freshman Latif Rivers combined for a season-high 48 points on 14-of-31 shooting from the floor, 6-of-14 from beyond the arc and 14-of-16 from the line while handing out eight assists. The twosome picked it up in the final five minutes and overtime, combining for 17 points - including 15 of Wagner's 20 overtime points. They were back at it in the OT win over Bryant, as Rivers had six of Wagner's 13 points with Murray notching two while assisting on all three Seahawk field goals, On the year, Murray (16.7 ppg) and Rivers (14.6 ppg) are the second-ranked scoring duo in the NEC, averaging 31.3 points per game while shooting 40.5 percent (245-605) from the floor, 39.1 percent (107-274) from beyond the arc and 86.5 percent (218-252) from the charity stripe. The duo is also accounting for 46.4 percent of the team's offense.

EVEN BETTER
Wagner's NEC-leading free throw percentage is also 77.4 percent in the last five minutes of games as the Seahawks are connecting on 137-of-177. Freshman Latif Rivers is 36-for-40 (90.0 %) while junior Tyler Murray is 36-for-43 (83.7 %).

10-POINT GAMES
In games decided by 10 points or less, the Green & White is converting a remarkable 78.8 percent (294-373) from the free throw line.

RAISING THE BAR
In the last five minutes of games and OT, Wagner is shooting a solid 35.8 percent (24-67) from beyond the arc while holding the opposition to just 29.9 percent (20-67) in similar situations.

DAN HURLEY QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“Our guys have been great ... These kids've got a lot of fight in 'em ... They've been that way the whole year ... They deserve a lot of credit, coming from where they came last year.”
Head coach Dan Hurley on his scrappy Seahawks

UP NEXT
Wagner is at Saint Francis (PA) on Thursday, February 26 at 7:00 pm.