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Brooklyn Heights, NY - Wagner (14-3; 5-1 NEC) heads to local rival St. Francis (NY) (8-9; 5-1 NEC) in search of its eighth-straight win tonight at  7:00 pm. A free video stream will be provided by the Terriers by clicking HERE while those wishing to listen to the Seahawk Broadcasting Network may do so by clicking HERE. There will not be live stats tonight due to technical difficulties.

QUICK HITS
* Today's game marks the second of three-straight against teams that are at the top of the Northeast Conference (NEC) standings.

* A victory would give the Seahawks their first eight-game winning streak since the Green & White collected 16-straight in the 1978-1979 season.

* Wagner will also be gunning for its first season-sweep of the SFNY since the 2004-2005 season and just the ninth time in school history.

* In the teams' first meeting, the Seahawks exploded for a season-high 54 second-half points while shooting a smouldering 57.1 percent (16-28) from the floor and holding the visitors to just 23 points, on 27.3 percent (6-22) shooting.

* Also in the December match-up, Wagner dominated the glass to the tune of 44-29, leading to a 38-18 advantage in the paint.

* Junior Jonathon Williams paced five players in double-figures with 18 points while seniors Chris Martin and Tyler Murray each added 14.

* The 40-point Seahawk win was the largest margin of victory by either team in the 85 meetings between the schools - a rivalry that dates back to the 1928-1929 season. It was also the Green & White's biggest victory against a Division I team since blowing out Sacred Heart 116-63 on February 22, 2000.

* The win also snapped a five-game losing streak to the Terriers while a victory today would be the first by Wagner in Brooklyn Heights since January 13, 2007.

* A year ago, the Seahawks entered the Pope Center with a perfect 4-0 record in league play only to be handed a 72-56 loss by SFNY.

* The Green & White are the only team to defeat the Terriers during NEC Play, as SFNY has won all four-straight since that setback.

* Also against the Terriers, Wagner will be aiming for its sixth-straight win away from Staten Island for the first time since claiming eight in a row on the road during the 1978-1979 season.

* St. Francis (NY) leads the all-time series by a 47-38 count.

* Wagner moved ascended to #20 in the Mid-Majority mid-major rankings and has now been a part of the poll in each of the last four weeks. The Seahawks also received a vote in the Associated Press Top-25 poll for the fourth-straight week and have a RPI of 79, which is the highest of any Northeast Conference team.

* The Green & White are off to its best start since the 1955-1956 season and its seven-game winning streak is the longest since beginning the 1979-1980 season with a 7-0 record.

* A win tonight would give Wagner just its fourth-ever 6-1 NEC start and the first since 2007-2008.

* The Seahawks enter tonight's game following a hard-fought 67-58 victory over CCSU (1/14), in which the Green & White shot an even 50.0 percent from the floor, highlighted by a season-best 62.5 percent (10-16) performance from long range.

* The win was the Green & White's 14 of the year, besting last year's total of 13 with 12 regular season games to be played.

* Wagner also improved to 6-1 at home and has outscored its opponents in the Spiro Sports Center by an average 15.3 points per game.

* Williams led the way for the Seahawks with 18 points while Murray chipped in with 12 points - highlighted by three three pointers over the final six-plus minutes of the game.

* Williams is second on the team in scoring (13.6 ppg) (14th NEC) and first in rebounding (5.1 rpg) (18th NEC) while Murray is third in scoring (12.2 ppg) (18th NEC) and leads the league in three-point shooting at 51.9 percent (40-77).

* Despite not hitting double-figures for just the third time this season, sophomore Latif Rivers had nine points, four assists and a career-best matching three blocks over 36 minutes. On the year, Rivers is averaging a team-best 15.4 points per game (11th NEC) while pacing the team in scoring a team-best eight times.

* The victory was the first by the Green & White over the Blue Devils since January 3, 2008 while snapping a five-game losing streak to the Nutmeg State Institution, which had won eight of the previous nine meetings dating back to the 2005-2006 season.

* With the aforementioned nine-point victory, Wagner improved to 7-2 in games decided by 10 points or less and an eye-popping 14-1 when leading with five minutes to play.

* The Seahawks have also been outstanding away from home, posting an 8-2 record in road/neutral court games. The eight wins away from home are tied for the sixth-most in the NCAA ranks while the Green & White's seven true road wins tie them for the third-most in the nation.

* Wagner's seven true road victories also match its combined total of seven over the previous two years.

* During the current seven-game winning streak, the Seahawks are shooting a blistering 37.8 percent from long range while outscoring its opponents by an average of 11.1 points per game and outrebounding them by 4.2 caroms per game.

* Leading the charge has been Rivers, who is averaging a team-best 18.9 points per game during the streak while shooting an even 50.0 percent (43-86) from the floor, 43.8 percent (21-48) from long range and 92.6 percent (25-27) from the line. Additionally, the smooth-shooting guard has paced the team in scoring in five of the wins.

* Lost amid the shuffle of Rivers' outstanding performance during the Green & White's current hot streak has been the play of sophomore Kenneth Ortiz. The 6-0 point guard has paced the Green & White in rebounding four times while averaging 8.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.7 assists per game and has posted an impressive + 2.6 assist-to-turnover ratio. On the year, Ortiz is averaging 4.1 assists (4th NEC) and 5.0 rebounds (19th NEC) per game while posting a 1.6 assist-to-turnover ratio (t-7th NEC).

* Wagner's victories over Bryant (1/12) and CCSU (1/14) give the Seahawks wins over teams from eight different states (CA, CO, CT, DE, NC, NJ, NY, PA, RI).

* Freshman Marcus Burton has delivered instant offense off the bench over the last three games, averaging 8.7 points per game while shooting 56.3 percent (9-16) from the floor. Additionally, Burton is averaging 1.7 steals and 1.0 block per game while also providing a spark on defense.

* With the exception of of Long Island, the Seahawks have bested every NEC team since head coach Dan Hurley took over prior to last season. The second-year mentor will get his shot at the Blackbirds on Saturday night at 7:00 pm.

* On the year, Rivers ranks 11th in the NEC with a team-best 15.4 points per game average and is second in the league and 13th nationally in free throw percentage (.899) (62-69).

* Rivers' performance from the line has spearheaded a Wagner attack that has converted 74.1 percent from the line. That figures ranks second in the NEC and 33rd nationally. Over the last five minutes of 10-point games, the Seahawks are converting 76.4 percent (55-72) from the line - including 84.6 percent (33-39) in the final minute.

* Despite losing the turnover battle in the win at Monmouth (1/7) for the first time in 11 games, the Green & White still leads the NEC and rank 17th in the nation with a +3.9 turnover margin. #1 Syracuse paces the nation with a + 7.4 turnover margin. All told, Wagner has won the turnover battle in 15-of-17 this year.

* In the victory over CCSU (1/14), the Seahawks pressured the Blue Devils into 20 turnovers, marking the sixth time this season that the Green & White has forced at least 20 miscues.

* Besides leading the NEC in turnover margin, Wagner also paces the league in scoring margin (+10.0) (51st NCAA), fewest turnovers (12.9) (84th NCAA), field goal percentage defense (.405) (78th), blocked shots (4.4) (78th NCAA) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.03) (106th NCAA). 

* The Seahawks are also second in the league in scoring offense (74.4 ppg) (64th NCAA) and scoring defense (64.4 ppg), (115th NCAA) while ranking in the upper half of the NEC in all 15 team rankings.

* The Seahawks have not trailed in the second half of 11 of their 14 victories and are 11-0 when limiting the opposition to under 70 points and 10-1 when scoring at least 70.

* Wagner returns home on Saturday, January 21 at 7:00 pm against defending NEC Champion Long Island in a game that will be televised by ESPNU.

SETTING THE SCENE
Wagner (14-3; 5-1 NEC) will look for its eighth-straight victory for the first time since the 1978-1979 season when the Seahawks head to St. Francis (NY) (8-9; 5-1 NEC) tonight at 7:00 pm.

TODAY'S ...
Game will be the second of three games against teams that currently sit in the top three spots in the league rankings. In the first, the Green & White bested CCSU (1/14) 67-58.

THE REST OF THE WAY
The final six Wagner home games and 10 of the last 12 overall will begin at 7:00 pm. On the year, the Seahawks are 9-1 in 7:00 pm tips.

BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG PERFORMANCES
Wagner is an impressive 8-1 in television games this year - including having won seven-straight - and will play on TV in each of its final six home games - highlighted by games on ESPNU (LIU - 1/21) and MSG (Robert Morris - 2/2).

LUCKY NUMBER 70
The Seahawks are a perfect 11-0 when holding the opposition to under 70 points and 10-1 when scoring at least 70 points.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN
Wagner has posted a sparkling 7-2 record on the road following its win at Monmouth (1/7), one season after going just 5-12 away from the friendly confines of the Spiro Sports Center. The seven wins are tied for the third-most road victories in the nation.

14-3
The 14-3 start is the best by a Seahawk team since the 1955-1956 season when the Green & White began 20-2 en route to a 20-3 season.

A WIN TONIGHT
Would give Wagner its first sweep of SFNY since the 2004-2005 season while guaranteeing the Seahawks their first winning regular season since the 2008-2009 season. All-told, the Green & White have had just 12 winning regular seasons since going Division I in 1976-1977.

DID YOU KNOW?
Murray is averaging 15.0 points per game over the last five games against the Terriers while Martin is notching 11.3 points per game over seven career games against SFNY while converting 40.0 percent (14-35) from long range.

LOCK IT UP
In the first meeting between the teams, the Seahawks shot a season-best 56.1 percent (32-57) from the floor while reaching 90 points for the only time this year. On the defensive end, the Green & White limited SFNY to just 31.1 percent (14-45) shooting, including 27.3 percent (6-22) in the second half while misfiring on all five three-point attempts. Five members of the Green & White hit for double-figures while no Terriers reached double-digits.

NEXT
With Murray notching his 1,000th point against Santa Clara (12/30), the next member of Wagner to hit for 1,000 will most likely be Martin, who has 942 career points.

FOLAHAN ASCENDS THE CAREER BLOCKS RANKINGS
Sophomore Naofall Folahan, who leads the NEC and ranks 43rd nationally with 2.1 blocks per game, recently cracked the Seahawks' top-10 list for blocked shots. After his two swats in the win over CCSU (1/14), the Republic of Benin native has 81, ranking ninth in school history. Folahan, who is averaging 4.9 points and 4.6 rebounds per game, is three off Mark Porter (84) for eighth place. 

CLOSING IT OUT
The Seahawks are 14-1 when leading with five minutes to play thanks to shooting an impressive 83.0 percent (39-47) from the line in the final minute this season.

ADDITIONALLY
In the win over CCSU (1/14), the Green & White displayed its tenacity in the game's final five minutes on defense, limiting the Blue Devils to 0-for-4 shooting.

CLOSING IT OUT PART 2
Wagner 7-2 in games decided by 10 points or less while shooting 76.4 percent (55-72) from the line over the last five minutes in those games.

BOOST FROM THE BENCH
Rookies Marcus Burton and Mario Moody combined for 26 points, on 10-of-15 shooting, with 12 rebounds, three assists and three blocks over 36 minutes of action off the bench in Wagner's 78-61 win over Bryant (1/12). Each freshman recorded career-highs in scoring while helping lift the Seahawk bench to a 32-24 advantage against the Bulldog reserves. Burton followed that performance with eight points and a career-best steals in the win over CCSU (1/14).

DURING NEC PLAY
Wagner is outscoring the opposition by an average of 25.8 points per game while posting four double-digit wins. Additionally the Seahawks are shooting 47.1 percent from the floor, including 37.9 percent from beyond the arc while limiting opposing teams to just 39.3 percent shooting, including 28.9 percent from long range.

TODAY'S OPPONENT: SFNY
St. Francis (NY) (8-9; 5-1 NEC) enters today's game looking for its fifth-straight win and is led by long range standouts, senior Stefan Perunicic (13.2 ppg) and sophomore Ben Mockford (11.6 ppg). Mockford is averaging a NEC-best 2.9 three pointers per game while Perunicic is second with 2.8 triples per contest, leading a Terrier team that leads the league with an average of 8.0 three pointers per game.

STAT COMPARISON
Wagner: Scoring Offense (74.4 ppg) / Scoring Defense (64.4 ppg) / FG% (.444) / FG%D (.405)
SFNY: Scoring Offense (68.8 ppg) / Scoring Defense (69.4 ppg) / FG% (.430) / FG%D (.445)

DON'T FORGET TO STRETCH
The Green & White will stream tonight's game through Stretch Internet for free. Check the MBB schedule/results page on the Wagner Athletics website beginning at 6:50 pm (EST).

COACH DAN HURLEY
Head coach Dan Hurley is 27-20 in this his second year. Last year, Hurley initiated an eight-win improvement marking the best regular season turnaround in America for a first-year coach while also matching Steve Lavin of St. John's for the best conference-win improvement (+6) by a rookie coach.

TWITTER
Fans wishing to follow and comment on this weekend's action they can use the hash tag #WAGSNY.

SECOND-HALF SUCCESS
Since early December, the Green & White have opened the second half with some impressive scoring runs:
St. Francis (NY) (12/3) - 22-4 ~ Hofstra (12/6) - 6-0 ~ Lehigh (12/10) - 8-2 ~ #15 Pitt (12/23) - 15 -8 ~
Air Force (12/29) - 13-4 ~ Santa Clara (12/30) - 9-0 ~ Monmouth (1/7) - 9-0.

HOME SWEET HOME
At home this season, Wagner has been outscoring its opposition by an average of 15.3 points per game at home. No one player has contributed to that number more than Williams. The Junior College transfer has led the Seahawks in scoring in five of the Seahawks' seven home games while posting a team-best 17.8 points per game while shooting a blistering 60.0 percent (42-70) from the floor.

RIVERS REBOUNDS
After averaging just 9.0 points per game on a chilly 33.3 percent (8-24) from the floor in the previous three games before facing #15 Pitt (12/23), Rivers missed his three first-half shots against the Panthers. He then scored all of his game-high 18 points after in the second half while going 5-for-9 from the floor. Since that scoreless half, Rivers has scored a combined 132 points spanning the second half against the Panthers and in wins over Air Force (12/29), Santa Clara (12/30), FDU (1/5), Monmouth (1/7), Bryant (1/12) and CCSU (1/14) while shooting 51.8 percent (43-for-83) from the floor and 44.7 percent (21-47) from long range during that time.

ICEWATER IN HIS VEINS
Rivers also atoned for a missed free throw in the final minute of Wagner's loss to Lehigh (12/10) by going 6-for-6 down the stretch in the Seahawks' 59-54 win over #15 Pitt (12/23).

IN THE FINAL MINUTE OF ...
10-point games, Rivers is converting 85.0 percent (17-20) from the line in the last minute.

MILESTONE WATCH
Murray (1053 points) is just seven points off of Nigel Wyatte (1,060 points) for 34th on the all-time Green & White scoring list. Martin is four triples behind Bobby Hopson (192) for fourth on the all-time three-point list. 

DOUBLE-DOWN
Murray has recorded double-figures a team-best 15 times this year and in 50-of-54 games since the end of his sophomore year.  Rivers, meanwhile, has notched double-figures 14 times this year and 35 times in 47 career games. Murray (10) and Rivers (9) have also recorded at least 20 points in a game a combined 19 times.

ORTIZ MAKING WAVES ON THE ISLAND
In his first season on Staten Island, Ortiz has filled up the stat sheets, averaging 8.4 points, 5.0 rebounds (19th NEC), 4.1 assists (4th NEC) and 1.9 steals (2nd NEC) per game while pacing a defense that has posted a NEC-leading +3.9 turnover margin. In the 59-54 win over Pitt (12/23), he put his talent on display with 12 points and a game and career-high seven assists over 35 minutes while converting 6-of-9 from the floor. At the Cable Car Classic, Ortiz averaged 9.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game in winning the Most Inspirational Award, before capping the event with his game-winning shot at Santa Clara (12/30), which has been watched by more than 1.3 million people on YouTube.

SENIOR SPOTLIGHT
The senior duo of Martin and Murray has been a big factor in the revival of Seahawk basketball. Over the last three-plus years, the twosome has combined for 2,001 points while converting on 40.4 percent (343-849) from long range and 75.6 percent (354-468) from the line. Murray is first in three point per centage (.433) on the Green & White's all-time rankings while Martin is ninth (.384).

DID YOU KNOW?
Despite standing just 6-0, Ortiz has the top two individual rebounding performances for the Green & White this season. The Wagner starting point guard grabbed a career-best 12 in the win over Santa Clara (12/30) - including seven on the offensive end, surpassing his previous best of 11 notched in the win over NCCU (11/16).  He has paced the team on the glass in six games with the Seahawks going 6-0 during that time.

20/20
The Seahawks has forced six opponents into at least 20 turnovers this season. The Green & White pressured Princeton (11/12) into 28, which are the most caused by Wagner since December 4, 2001 when Iona turned it over 28 times. In the win over Lafayette (11/19), the Leopards turned it over 20 times before SFNY (12/3) committed 21 miscues in a 40-point setback. Most recently, the Seahawks forced 20 CCSU (1/14) turnovers in a nine-point win.

NO THREE FOR YOU
After allowing its opponents to convert at least one three pointer in every game since the 1993-1994 season, Wagner limited two teams to no zero three pointers in 2011-2012.

ALL OVER THE PLACE
This season the Seahawks recorded non-league wins over teams from seven different conferences (BIG EAST, CAA, Ivy, MEAC, MWC, Patriot, WCC).

PRIOR TO THIS SEASON
The Green & White had never won 10 games before January and their nine non-conference wins broke the 2005-2006 team's previous record of seven.

UP NEXT
Wagner hosts defending NEC Champion Long Island on Saturday, January 21 at 7:00 pm in a game that will be televised on ESPNU.