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Moon Township, PA - Wagner (13-15; 9-8 NEC) wraps up regular season play at defending league champion Robert Morris (15-13; 11-6 NEC) on Saturday, February 26 at 7:00 pm. Both teams are playing for playoff seeding as the Seahawks can earn either the fifth or sixth seed and the Colonials the third or fourth seed for the annual postseason tournament that is slated to start on Thursday, March 3. The teams met back on January 6 with the Green & White prevailing 83-78 in overtime as junior Tyler Murray and freshman Latif Rivers combined for 48 points.

SETTING THE SCENE
Wagner (13-15; 9-8 NEC) will attempt to snap a three-game losing streak against Robert Morris (15-13; 11-6 NEC) on Saturday, February 26 at 7:00 pm.

PLAYOFF SCENARIOS
Long Island (15-2) and Quinnipiac (12-5 NEC) have locked up the top two spots for the upcoming NEC Tournament. Central Connecticut (11-6 NEC) can secure the third spot with a win over LIU or a Robert Morris (11-6 NEC) loss to Wagner (9-7 NEC). However, a Colonial win and a Blue Devil loss would give RMU the third seed and CCSU the fourth. The Seahawk are tied with St. Francis (NY) (9-8 NEC) and would finish fifth with a win or a Terrier loss or sixth with a win and a SFNY loss. The Terriers could finish fifth, sixth or seventh. Mount St. Mary's (8-9 NEC) can finish up at either sixth, seventh or eighth. If Saint Francis (PA) (7-10 NEC) were to defeat the Mountaineers, the Red Flash would be the seventh seed and MSM the eighth.

WAGNER WILL BE ...
Either the fifth or sixth seed and play at Central Connecticut State or Robert Morris on Thursday, March 3.

THE LAST TIME WAGNER ...
Was the sixth seed was during the 2004-2005 season when the Seahawks upset Robert Morris and top seed Monmouth. The clock struck midnight for the Green & White in the Championship Game at FDU with the Knights garnering the league's automatic berth. All-told, the Seahawks have been the sixth seed seven times, going 5-7 during those instances.

THE SEAHAWKS ...
Have been the fifth seed just once in the 30-year history of the NEC. In 2000-2001, fifth seeded Wagner bested LIU 88-83 before falling to St. Francis (NY) 72-65 in the semifinals.

THREE IN A ROW
Wagner's loss to Saint Francis (PA) marked the Seahawks' third-straight loss. The Green & White have dropped three-straight games just once this season. Wagner, however, snapped the previous four-game skid with a rousing 80-65 victory over Albany back on December 30. The Seahawks hope that history repeats itself against a Robert Morris team that has won five-straight games.

THE MATCH-UP
Robert Morris (15-13; 11-6 NEC) will be looking to earn the third seed for the upcoming NEC Tournament while evening up the season-series with Wagner (13-15; 9-8 NEC). The Colonials clinched a home playoff game with a 65-57 victory over Mount St. Mary's the last time out and have won five-straight games, including four of those game by 10 points or less. RMU will be without leading scorer and 2010 NCAA Tournament hero Karon Abraham (13. 9 ppg, 42.1 % 3 pt), who will miss the rest of the season due to an injury to his achillies tendon.

LOOKING TO BREAK THROUGH
Wagner has lost four-straight and seven-of-eight in Moon Township since the Seahawks' NEC Championship season of 2002-2003.

ALL-TIME SERIES
Robert Morris leads the all-time series by a 33-23 count.

LAST MEETING
Wagner defeated Robert Morris 83-78 in overtime on January 6 at the Spiro Sports Center in the teams' last meeting. Freshman Latif Rivers scored eight of his 22 points in OT and was a perfect 2-for-2 from the floor and 4-for-4 from the line during extra time. Junior Tyler Murray added a team-best 26 points with four assists over 44 minutes of action. The guard duo of Rivers and Murray finished with a season-best 48 combined points while going 14-of-33 (42.4 %) from the floor, including 6-of-14 (42.7 %) from beyond the arc, and 14-of-16 (87.5 %) from the line. In defeat Abraham went off for a game-high 32 points, on 9-of-20 shooting from the floor, including 5-of-8 from beyond the arc, and 9-of-12 from the line as the rest of the Colonials scored just 46 points.

ODD
In the team's first meeting, Wagner scored just 26 points, on 6-of-22 shooting, in the second half before notching 20 points, on 5-of-7 shooting, in overtime.

MURRAY STEPS UP
Over his last three games against Robert Morris, junior Tyler Murray is averaging 18.3 ppg on 56.3 percent (18-32) shooting from the floor, including 64.7 percent (11-17) from beyond the arc.

STREAKING
Wagner has outshot the opposition in each of the last four games, shooting 51.0 percent (111-218) from the floor during that time while forcing opposing shooters to convert on 43.5 percent (87-200). However, the Seahawks have gone just 1-3 during that time as their opponents have gone 109-of-149 (73.2 %) from the line, compared to 56-of-78 (71.8 %) for the Green & White.

STRUGGLING
Wagner, which leads the NEC in three-point shooting at 37.0 percent, is converting just 29.6 percent (45-142) from beyond the arc over the last eight games while failing to convert at least 40.0 percent in all of those games. When the Seahawks fail to hit on at least 35.0 percent, they are 1-8 on the year.

MARTIN TURNING IT UP
Junior Chris Martin has scored in double-figures in a season-best four-straight games, averaging 14.0 ppg while shooting 51.4 percent (19-37) from the floor during that time, including 44.4 percent (8-18) from beyond the arc.

FRONTCOURT FRENZY
Over the last four games, the Wagner frontcourt contingent of Orlando Parker, Naofall Folahan, Josh Thompson, Cliff Spiller and Clayfell Harris are averaging 28.5 ppg while converting on 68.1 percent (49-72) from the line. Parker is leading the charge, averaging 11.0 ppg on 66.7 percent shooting (20-30).

PARKER PERFECT ... AGAIN
Freshman Orlando Parker was a perfect 7-of-7 from the floor for the second time this season in the narrow four-point loss to St. Francis (NY), finishing up with 14 points and a game-high five rebounds.

ANNUAL KEYSTONE STATE TRIP
This week's games against St. Francis (PA) and Robert Morris marks the 26th time in the history of the league that Wagner has faced each team in back-to-back games. Just twice (2002-2003 & 1992-1993) have the Seahawks swept the annual trip. In both of those years, Wagner advanced to the NEC Title game. The Seahawks have split nine times and been swept the other 14 times. All-time in the history of NEC-play, Wagner has gone 8-20 against Saint Francis (PA) and 6-21 against Robert Morris on the road. Additionally, since the Green & White's 2002-2003 NEC Championship season, Wagner has gone just 3-11 against the two schools.

THREE-POINT LETDOWN
After peaking at 12th in the national rankings at 40.2 percent in three-point shooting back on January 27, Wagner has fallen to No. 62 in NCAA ranks at 37.0 percent.

THOMPSON TAKES FLIGHT
Over the last two games, sophomore Josh Thompson is averaging 9.0 ppg while converting 81.8 percent (9-11) from the floor - fueled by five highlight reel dunks. On the year, he is averaging 7.3 ppg and 4.1 rpg on 42.7 percent shooting.

NOTES FROM WAGNER'S SIX-POINT LOSS TO SFPA
Wagner turned the ball over a season-low seven times, including just twice after halftime, while shooting 50.8 percent (30-59) from the floor ... The Green & White won the battle of the boards in the first half (20-14) but were dominated on the glass in the second half (12-26), leading to a 16-1 advantage in second-chance points for SFPA ... Wagner shot a season-low 55.0 percent (11-20) performance from the line after entering as the league's top team from the charity stripe.

IN THE LAST FIVE MINUTES OF WAGNER'S NINE NEC WINS
Freshman Latif Rivers is averaging a team-best 5.2 ppg while shooting 57.9 percent (11-19) from the floor and 91.7 percent (22-24) from the line while turning the ball over just three times.

WITH A WIN
Wagner would reach double-figures in NEC wins for the 10th time in the 30 year history of the league ... Additionally, head coach Dan Hurley would collect his 14th overall and 10th NEC win of the year, matching Bill Keegan (1934-1935) and Chester Sellitto's (1965-1966) for the most overall wins by a first-year Seahawk coach and Mike Deane (2003-2004) for the most NEC-victories by a first-year Wagner mentor.

HURLEY TO APPEAR ON ESPN/CBS
Head coach Dan Hurley and his Wagner Seahawks will be profiled on Saturday, February 26 by both ESPN College Gameday and CBS College Sports. The ESPN piece will be the third segment of the 11:00 am hour to air and features interviews from Hurley, assistant coach Bobby Hurley and from their dad, Naismith Hall of Famer Bob Hurley Sr. The CBS segment will air throughout the day on Saturday, time permitting, and again before the Duke/UNC pregame game on Saturday, March 5.

PLAYING WELL OVER THE LAST FOUR
Is junior Tyler Murray. The Canadian native is averaging 15.8 ppg, 4.8 apg and 4.5 rpg while shooting 51.1 percent (23-45) from the floor and 86.7 percent (13-15) from the line over the last four games.

OP COMING ON STRONG
Over the last five games, freshman Orlando Parker is avearging 11.2 ppg while shooting 64.1 percent (25-39) from the floor. He has now notched double-figures in scoring in 11 of his last 15 games after doing so just twice in his first 13 games. On the year, Parker is averaging 7.3 ppg and 4.8 rpg while ranking second in the league in field goal percentage (.537).

FRESHMEN BY NAME ONLY
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.

BAILEY HONORED
Wagner all-time leading scorer Terrance Bailey was honored at the third media timeout of the first half vs. SFNY for his inclusion to the inaugural NEC Hall of Fame class. Bailey scored 2,591 points from 1983-1987 and was one of five 1,000 point scorers at the game. Jamie Ciampaglio (1,814 points) (1976-1981) was also in attendance as his son, Andrew was honored for his four years of service as the team manager. Joining the pair were Russ Selger (1965-1968) (1,534 points), Dedrick Dye (1,349 points) (1999-2003) and Arnold Obey (1,081 points) (1965-1968).

DUNK YOU VERY MUCH
Wagner recorded a season-high five dunks against St. Francis (NY), including a game-high three from sophomore Josh Thompson en route to 10 points, on 5-of-6 shooting.

THE LAST 10
While Wagner ranks 12th in the nation and second among all NEC teams in free throw shooting (76.8 %), the Seahawks have had each one of their last 10 opponents hit on at least 71.4 percent of their free throws. Remarkably, just two of those nine teams (CCSU/SFPA) are shooting above 70.0 percent for the year. During that time, Wagner is converting 76.0 percent (146-192) while the opposition is making good on 76.2 percent (246-323). Over the first seven NEC Games, the Seahawks made 76.9 percent (133-173) while their opponents converted 65.7 percent (151-230).

TYLER CONSISTENTLY CONSISTENT
Junior Tyler Murray has upped his scoring average by 8.0 ppg from last year thanks to hitting double-figures in 27 of the 28 Wagner games en route to ranking third in the circuit in scoring at 16.8 ppg.

SCOUTING ROBERT MORRIS
The loss of Abraham makes the Colonials a very thin team as the defending NEC Champions have just nine scholarship players and will most likely go eight-deep. Sophomore guard Velton Jones is now the team's top scorer at 11.1 ppg, including 12.5 ppg during league play, with classmate forward Russell Johnson next at 11.0 ppg with a team-best 7.1 rpg. Sophomore forward Lijah Williams is next up with 8.3 ppg while shooting 55.6 percent from the floor.

DEFENSIVE MINDED
Robert Morris a very physical team that thrives on defense, as the Colonials have the league's second-ranked scoring defense (65.2 ppg) while limiting teams to just 41.7 percent shooting (2nd NEC).

X4
Since only placing only 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 nine of its last 11 games.

HOME SWEET HOME ... THIS YEAR
Wagner finished out the home portion of its schedule with an 8-5 record (6-3 NEC). A year ago, the Seahawks went just 2-11 and 2-7 in the league at the Spiro Sports Center.

COACH DAN HURLEY
Head coach Dan Hurley is 13-15 (9-8 NEC) and will be squaring off against Robert Morris head coach Andrew Toole, who is 15-13 (11-6 NEC) in this his first year in Moon Township.

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 last minute of all 28 games, he is shooting 45.8 percent (11-24) from the floor and 89.3 percent (25-28) from the line.

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

THOMPSON LEADS THE SECOND UNIT
One game after the Wagner bench scored a season-low matching four points at the Mount, sophomore Josh Thompson went for nine points and a team-best five rebounds in the rematch against the Mountaineers, leading the second unit, which scored 17 points on 5-of-10 shooting - including 5-of-7 from the line.

KILLING IT FROM THE LINE
As a team, Wagner ranks 12th nationally and second in the league in free throw percentage at 76.8 percent, after making just 61.1 percent a year ago. Additionally, the Seahawks have drained at least 80.0 percent from the line nine times during NEC play, going 6-3 during that time.

CLOSE GAMES = THE HURLEY WAY
Wagner's stout free throw shooting and clutch play has helped the Seahawks to 10-6 record in games decided by five points or less, including 7-4 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 four games are making good on 50.9 percent.

EXTRA TIME = SEAHAWK SUCCESS
Despite the four-point OT loss to LIU, Wagner is 3-1 in overtime games this season. All three wins have come against NEC opponents (@ Bryant, RMU, @ SHU) and by exactly five points. In the four OT games, the Seahawks have outscored the opposition 54-43 while shooting 58.3 percent (14-24) from the floor and 76.7 percent (23-30) from the line. Freshman Latif Rivers has led the way, notching 20 points (5.0 ppg) during extra time while going 4-of-4 from the floor and 11-of-12 from the line. Wagner is now 9-3 in OT games since the 2007-2008 season.

NEC ON THE UP AND UP
The NEC is currently the 18th 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 Tournament. Wagner is currently ranked 165th and Robert Morris 121st.

HURLEY'S PLAYERS IN THE RANKINGS
It should come as no surprise that freshman Latif Rivers ranks 17th in the nation in free throw percentage (.894) (110-123) as head coach Dan Hurley also coached the seventh-ranked free throw shooter in the nation, Nova's Corey Stokes (.906) (77-85).

ALSO IN THE RANKINGS
Junior Tyler Murray is second in the NEC and 104th nationally in scoring (16.8 ppg).

20-POINT CLUB
Junior Tyler Murray scored 20 points in Wagner's 61-57 win over FDU after notching 19 of his 20 points in the second half against CCSU while almost helping the Seahawks erase a 24-point second half deficit. The junior guard has now recorded at least 20 points in nine games with the Green & White going 6-3 during that time.

PARKER CONTINUES TO IMPRESS
Despite being limited to just 25 minutes at CCSU, freshman Orlando Parker recorded his third career double-double while matching his career-high with 15 points while pulling down 10 rebounds. The Sunshine State native scored Wagner's first eight points of the game en route to going 7-of-10 from the floor.

CLOSE GAMES
20 of the Seahawks' 28 games have been decided by 10 points or less with the Green & White going 11-9 in those match-ups.

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 game with LIU, won that category in the rematch by a 16-4 margin.

TYLER TEARING UP THE NEC
Junior Tyler Murray is third in the NEC in scoring (16.8 ppg), fifth in three-point percentage (.412) (54-131), seventh in free throw percentage (.827) (126-152), 11th in three pointers (1.9 3's/game), 13th in steals (1.3 spg), 13th in assists (3.5 apg) and second in minutes (37.0 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 second among a strong freshman class in scoring (14.3 ppg) (12th NEC) while leading the league and ranking 17th nationally in free throw percentage (.894) (110-123). He is also among the league leaders in three's per game (2.0 3's/game) (t-8th NEC) and minutes played (33.0 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 (16.8 ppg) and Rivers (14.3 ppg) are the second-ranked scoring duo in the NEC, averaging 31.1 points per game while shooting 40.2 percent (262-651) from the floor, 37.9 percent (110-290) from beyond the arc and 85.8 percent (236-275) from the charity stripe. The duo is also accounting for 45.6 percent of the team's offense.

MURRAY MANIA
There has been no question that junior Tyler Murray has been the main reason that the Seahawks are 9-8 in the NEC. In the win over Robert Morris, he scored a team-best 26 points, highlighted by his fourth and final three pointer with 2:08 to play that put the Green & White up for good. At Quinnipiac, Murray capped his 28-point performance with six of the team's final 12 points, including five-straight to put Wagner in front for good with just over two minutes to play. At Sacred Heart, he scored 10 points of his 23 points in the game's final five minutes of regulation and overtime while helping the Seahawks erase what was a five-point deficit with just over 47 seconds left in regulation. In the 28-point win over Saint Francis (PA), Murray scored 20 points in just 29 minutes. He has also gone for at least 20 points on three other occasions during conference play.

EVEN BETTER
Wagner's NEC-leading free throw percentage is also 77.8 percent in the last five minutes of games as the Seahawks are connecting on 142-of-182. Freshman Latif Rivers is 39-for-45 (86.7 %) while junior Tyler Murray is 41-for-48 (85.4 %).

MURRAY RANKS SECOND
Junior Tyler Murray is second on the all-time three point percentage (min. 100 three point attempts) list, converting on a blistering 40.7 percent (110-270).

RAISING THE BAR
In games decided by 10 points or less, the Green & White is converting a remarkable 78.3 percent (317-405) from the free throw line.

UP NEXT
Wagner will be on the road on Thursday, March 3 in the NEC Playoffs against a team to be determined.