GAME NOTES / FDU GAME NOTES
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Staten Island, NY - Wagner (10-11; 6-4 NEC) hosts Fairleigh Dickinson (4-17; 2-8 NEC) tonight starting at 7:00 pm in the Spiro Sports Center. The match-up, which will be the only game this year between the schools, also opens up a stretch during which the Seahawks will play five of their next six at home.

Tonight is "Going Green Night" and all those who bring an old cell phone to recycle will not only receive two free tickets, but will also be entered to win two free tickets to the Nets vs. Spurs game on February 14th.

ABOUT FDU
FDU enters today's game with a 4-17 record, including a 2-8 mark during league, having lost five-straight and 14-of-15 since starting out NEC play with wins at home over Bryant and CCSU. During their recent funk, the Knights have had nine of their 14 losses by 10 points or less, including three of the last five by three points or less.

KEYS TO THE GAME
For Wagner to win this game the Seahawks will have to continue to play well in the areas they tend to succeed in. The Green & White are third in the NEC in field goal percentage (.435) while the Knights are eighth in field goal percentage defense (.433). From beyond the arc, Wagner leads the NEC and ranks 15th nationally in three point percentage (.402) while FDU is 10th in the league in three-point defense (.367). Additionally, the Knights are 10th in the league in shooting (.397) and 11th in three point shooting (.303) while the Seahawks are third in field goal percentage defense (.418) and fifth in three point defense (.330).  FDU's main advantage figures to be on the glass where the Knights own the third-best rebounding offense (38.6 rpg) and the third-best rebounding margin (+1.4) while Wagner ranks 12th in rebounding offense (29.9) and rebounding margin (-6.8).

SCOUTING FDU
The Knights are a senior-dominated team as each of their top four scorers are in their final year of eligibility. Preseason All-NEC selection Mike Scott, who is playing a league-best 38.9 mpg, is the team's top player averaging 15.7 ppg (6th NEC), 4.6 apg (4th NEC) and 5.6 rpg (11th NEC) while pacing the team in three point percentage (.387) and free throw percentage (.839). Forward Kamil Svrdlik is next up at 12.5 ppg (19th NEC) and 7.4 rpg (5th NEC) while leading the league in field goal percentage (.561). Fifth-year guard Terence Grier rounds out the double-digit scorers at 12.1 ppg. The URI transfer scored a team-best 25 points off the bench in FDU's 64-62 OT loss to NJIT. Forward John Galvin rounds out the top performers for the Knights with 7.3 ppg and 6.8 rpg (6th NEC). Galvin was a terror against LIU and SFNY last week, averaging 22.0 ppg and 13 rpg. During NEC-play, the four players are all averaging double-figures in scoring with Svrdlik and Galvin are combining to average 24.0 ppg and 15.5 rpg from the paint while shooting 60.8 percent.

QUICK COMPARISON
Wagner is 7-4 in games decided by five points or less, including 4-2 during NEC play, while FDU is just 2-4 in games decided by five points or less, including 1-2 during league games. Last year, the Seahawks went 3-8 in five-point games, including 2-5 during conference play. Additionally, the Green & White are 3-0 in overtime games while the Knights are 0-3.

EXTRA TIME = SEAHAWK SUCCESS
Wagner improved to a perfect 3-0 in overtime games this season with its 80-75 victory over Bryant ... All three wins have come against NEC opposition (@ Bryant, RMU, @ SHU) and by five points. In those games, the Seahawks have outscored the opposition 46-31 while shooting 62.5 percent (10-16) from the floor and 82.1 percent (23-28) from the line. Freshman Latif Rivers has led the way, notching 18 points (6.0 ppg) during extra time while going 3-of-3 from the floor and 11-of-12 from the line. Wagner has now won four-straight overtime games and is 9-2 since the 2007-2008 season.

ALSO
Wagner has trailed for a total of just 1:16 over its three overtime games this year, going 3-0 when needing to play extra time. Addtionally, the Seahawks assumed control and did not trail in games at Sacred Heart and Bryant.

THE SERIES
FDU holds a 49-40 advantage in the all-time series, having won each of the last two games. The Knights have also captured six of the last eight meetings in the Spiro Sports Center dating back to the Seahawks' 2002-2003 NEC Championship Season.

LAST YEAR'S MEETING
Wagner controlled the pace for most of the game and were up 52-39 with 13:45 to play, only to have FDU close out the game on a 31-13 run en route to a 70-65 victory. Sophomore Danny Mundweiler scored a career-best 18 points, fueled by six three pointers, while junior Tyler Murray added 17 points and five assists.

LAST MEETING IN THE SPIRO
The last time these teams met in the Spiro Sports Center was arguably one of the wildest games in recent memory. FDU looked to have the game in hand and was up 49-33 with 10:08 to play. However, the Knights went cold and Wagner ended the half on a 16-0 run en route to tying the game up at 49-49 while forcing overtime. In the extra period, the Seahawks went in front by five points at 57-52 with just 1:44 to play. FDU rallied for a pair of jumpers, drawing to within one. After a Wagner miscue, Grier hit a three pointer from about 26 feet on the right side as time expired while allowing the Knights eto escape with the 59-57 victory.

LOOKING FOR REVENGE
Terrence Grier has had a considerable amount of success in his three games against Wagner,averaging 10.7 ppg, 4.0 rpg and 2.3 spg while shooting 47.8 percent (11-23) from the floor, including 50.0 percent (3-6) from beyond the arc - highlighted by his afroementioned game-winner back on February 5, 2009.

DID YOU KNOW???
Wagner will not play in the state of New Jersey this season. Tonight's game will be the third (of four) against a Garden State institution in 2010-2011 as the Seahawks will host Monmouth on Saturday. Thanks to the NEC's unbalanced schedule, coach Dan Hurley will have to wait a year before coaching in home state.

THURSDAY THUNDER
Wagner is now 4-1 in Thursday games following an 80-75 overtime victory over Bryant. The Seahawks have Thursday games vs. FDU, vs. LIU and at Saint Francis (PA) remaining.

TYLER REBOUNDS
After averaging just 12.3 ppg over the last three games, junior Tyler Murray scored 19 of his 20 points in the second half while almost helping Wagner erase a 24-point second half deficit.  The junior guard has now notched at least 20 points in at least eight games with the Seahawks going 5-3 during that time and ranks third in the NEC in scoring (17.2 ppg) while pacing the league in three point shooting (.474).

THE FIGHTING HAWKS
Down 21 points to CCSU, coach Dan Hurley's troops mounted an 18-4 run - highlighted by nine-straight points from junior Tyler Murray - to cut the Blue Devils lead to single digits at 68-61 with 2:47 to play. Wagner would get the deficit to five points with possession of the ball only to have CCSU escape with a 75-71 victory. All told over the final 14:52, the Green & White defense forced the Blue Devils into just 1-of-11 shooting, including missing 10-straight attempts.

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. He has now scored in double figures and led the team in rebounding over each of the last six games. During that time, Parker is averaging 11.7 ppg and a team-best 8.2 rpg while shooting 51.9 percent from the floor. On the year, he is averaging 6.8 ppg and 5.2 rpg (t-17th NEC) on 53.6 percent shooting.

DID YOU KNOW?
Wagner's seven wins by five points or less lead the league. Additionally, 14 of the Seahawks' 21 games have been decided by 10 points or less with the Green & White going 8-6 in those match-ups.

FOUR-STRAIGHT
Junior Tyler Murray as well as freshmen Orlando Parker and Latif Rivers have all notched double-figures in scoring in each of the last four games.

CONGRATS MR. HURLEY
Wagner head coach Dan Hurley's father Bob Hurley became the fifth prep coach with 1,000 career wins on February 2 by a 76-46 count over St. Mary's. Click HERE for the ESPN article/video.

DEFENDING THE GLASS
After losing the battle of the boards over seven-straight games and the first eight NEC match-ups, the Wagner Seahawks posted a +13 rebounding margin for their largest advantage of the year while holding Bryant to just 27 rebounds. Also the Green & White limited the Bulldogs to just three offensive rebounds - including zero in the opening half.

THREE-POINT BARRAGE
The Wagner-Bryant game matched the top-two three point shooting teams in the NEC, including the top-five individual three-point shooters. The game did not disappoint as Wagner converted 47.6 percent (10-21) from beyond the arc, including 60.0 percent (6-10) after halftime. While Bryant wasn't as efficient, hitting on just 32.0 percent (8-25) - including missing all three attempts in OT - the Bulldogs did tie the game up and send it to OT following a Cecil Gresham triple at the end of regulation.

IN EVERY GAME WAGNER HAS WON ...
The Seahawks have converted more three pointers then the opposition. The Green & White are 0-4 when allowing their opponents to drain more triples.

DOUBLE-DIGITS X5
Wagner placed five players in double-digits in the win over Bryant for the second time in the last three games after previously not doing so since an 82-70 win over Quinnipiac back on February 11, 2008.

NEC'S TOP FRESHMEN MATCH UP
The game against Bulldogs marked a meeting between the league's top two freshmen in Wagner's Latif Rivers and Bryant's Alex Francis. The two players have combined for 10 Choice Hotels NEC Rookie of the Week citations and are among the league's leading scorers. After 40 minutes, Francis had 14 points and eight rebounds while Rivers notched just 10 points on 3-of-9 shooting. However in OT, Rivers stole the show while scoring six points - highlighted by the go-ahead three pointer. Francis, meanwhile, had just two points as the players each finished up with 16 points.

FINALLY!!!
Wagner committed a season-low 17 transgressions compared to 23 for Bryant as the Seahawks had fewer fouls then the opposition for the first time all season.

COACHING MATCH-UP
Head coach Dan Hurley is 10-11 (6-4 NEC) in his first season and will be squaring off with second-year coach FDU Greg Vetrone, who is 15-38 (12-16 NEC).

SETON HALL COACHING TREE
Tonight's game features three coaching staff members that have Seton Hall ties. Head coach Dan Hurley graduated from Seton Hall in 1996 and helped the Pirates to the 1992 Sweet 16. Director of Basketball Operations Scott Smith also received his diploma from Seton Hall in 1996 while FDU assistant coach Marcus Toney-El graduated in 2004 and helped the Pirates to  three postseason berths, including the Second Round of the 2004 NCAA Tournament.

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.

MARTIN BREAKS OUT
After not scoring double-digits in back-to-back games all year, junior Chris Martin did so for the first time last week, and is averaging 12.5 ppg while shooting 48.0 percent (12-25) from beyond the arc over the last four games. The junior guard notched his eighth career 20-point game, dropping 15 of his team-best 21 points in the second half while converting 6-of-9 from beyond the arc against Sacred Heart. In the previous game, a 90-80 win over Quinnipiac, Martin had 16 points, on 4-of-6 shooting from long range. In the 80-75 win at Bryant, Martin scored just 11 points but did hand out seven assists, against just two turnovers, with five rebounds over a career-best 42 minutes. He currently ranks third in the NEC in three-point shooting (.422), seventh in assists (3.8 apg) and 12th in assist to turnover ratio (1.2) while averaging 9.4 ppg.

RAISE UP
On the strength of his career-best 22-of-24 performance from the line over the last three games, freshman Latif Rivers, who converted his first 31 collegiate free throws, is fourth in the national free throw percentage rankings at 93.5 percent (86-92).

NATIONAL RANKINGS
Also standing out in the rankings for Wagner is junior Tyler Murray, who is 86th in scoring (17.2 ppg). As a team, the Seahawks are ranked sixth in the nation in free throw shooting (.776) and 15th in three-point field-goal percentage (.402). If Wagner was to finish above 40.0 percent from deep, the Seahawks would become the first conference team since Robert Morris to notch that figure since the 1993-1994 season.

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. Against Sacred Heart, the Seahawks made good on just 36.0 percent (9-25) before converting on 47.6 percent (10-21) in the five-point win at Bryant. The Green & White then made good on just 25.0 percent (2-8) in the first half at CCSU before converting 50.0 percent (5-10) after halftime.

TURNING IT AROUND
After losing the turnover battle in each of the previous five games, averaging 4.6 more miscues then the opposition, Wagner forced 20 miscues, including 15 after halftime - which led to a 24-11 advantage in points off turnovers in the second half - in winning the battle of the turnovers by a +2 margin.

TYLER STEPS UP ... IN A DIFFERENT WAY
Despite scoring just 11 points in the win over Bryant, junior Tyler Murray still filled up the stat sheet w/six rebounds and five assists while notching double-figures for the 20th time in 21 games.

METHODICAL MURRY
Junior Tyler Murray has legitimized himself as a Player of the Year candidate with his stellar play over the last 10 games. The Canadian native is averaging 18.7 points per game while shooting 50.0 percent (56-112) from the floor, 50.0 percent (25-50) from beyond the arc and 80.6 percent (50-62) from the line while recording at least 20 points five times.

ON A ROLL
In the win over Bryant, Wagner converted eight-straight shots early in the second half while ripping off a 20-4 run - including 11-straight points - that gave the Seahawks their largest lead of the game at 12. Wagner then mounted a 24-8 run in the second half against CCSU, slicing a 21-point deficit to five and went 10-of-17 from the floor over the final 8:08 of the game.

DEFENSE STEPS UP AGAINST THE BLUE DEVILS
The Seahawks allowed the Blue Devils to convert just one field goal over the final 14:52 of the game as CCSU was pressured into 10-straight missed shots before they made good on their attempt of the game.

TYLER TEARING UP THE NEC
Junior Tyler Murray is third in the NEC in scoring (17.2 ppg) and ranks first in three-point shooting (.474) (46-97). He is also among the leaders in three pointers (2.2 3's/game) (7th NEC), free throw shooting (.831) (10th NEC), field goal percentage (.450) (12th NEC), assists (3.3 apg) (15th NEC), defensive rebounds (4.1 drpg) (10th NEC) and minutes (37.2 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 (14.2 ppg) (12th NEC) while leading the league and ranking fourth nationally in free throw percentage (.935). He is also among the league leaders in three's per game (2.1 3's/game) (8th NEC), three point percentage (.386) (10th NEC) and minutes played (32.9 mpg) (10th 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 (17.2 ppg) and Rivers (14.2 ppg) are the second-ranked scoring duo in the NEC, averaging 31.4 points per game and are shooting 40.8 percent (193-473) from the floor, 42.7 percent (90-211) from beyond the arc and 87.6 percent (184-210) from the charity stripe. The duo is also accounting for 46.3 percent of the team's offense.

EVEN BETTER
Wagner's NEC-leading free throw percentage jumps to 77.5 percent in the last five minutes of games as the Seahawks are connecting on 107-of-138. Freshman Latif Rivers is 29-for-32 (90.6 %) while junior Tyler Murray is 31-for-37 (83.8 %).

10-POINT GAMES
In games decided by 10 points or less, the Green & White is converting a remarkable 80.1 percent (254-317) from the free throw line.

RAISING THE BAR
In the last five minutes of games and OT, Wagner is shooting a solid 43.8 percent (21-48) from beyond the arc while holding the opposition to just 26.0 percent (13-50) in similar situations.

DAN HURLEY QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“We had them holding on for dear life.”
Head coach Dan Hurley on his team's near comeback from 25 points down at Central Connecticut State.

FREE THROW NOTES
Wagner is connecting on 76.5 percent (199-260) from the line in the second half of games this year, highlighted by an 89.3 percent (25-28) showing in the 10-point win over Quinnipiac ... The Seahawks are converting on 81.8 percent (193-236) from the line in their 10 victories, including 80.4 percent (115-143) after halftime in those games.

UP NEXT
Wagner hosts Monmouth on Saturday, February 5 at 7:00 pm in the Spiro Sports Center.