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Fairfield, CT - Wagner (15-4; 6-2 NEC) looks to get back in the victory column when the Seahawks travel to Sacred Heart (10-11; 4-4 NEC) tonight at 7:00 pm. The teams will square at the Pitt Center in their only regular season match-up of the season. The Green & White are currently in a four-way tie for second place in the conference at 6-2 with Central Connecticut State, Robert Morris and St. Francis (NY).

QUICK HITS
* After losing for the first time in over a month, Wagner (15-4; 6-2 NEC) will look to bounce back at Sacred Heart (10-11; 4-4 NEC) in the teams' only meeting of the regular season tonight, January 26, at 7:00 pm in the Pitt Center.

* The Seahawks are currently in a seven-way tie for the most road victories (8) in the nation with #9 Murray State, #14 Creighton, Cleveland State, Lehigh, Middle Tennessee State and Robert Morris.

* The Green & White are ranked 24th in the most recent Mid-Majority Mid-Major Top-25 and have resided in the poll in each of the last five weeks.

* In the most recent RPI rankings released by the NCAA on Monday, January 23, Wagner checked in at a NEC-best 92.

* Last year, the Seahawks and the Pioneers split their two meetings with the road team winning each game.

* In the teams' first match-up in Fairfield, the Green & White erased a five-point deficit over the final 47 seconds of regulation to tie it up, before winning in overtime thanks to a then career-high 23 points from senior Tyler Murray.

* Wagner rallied from 11 down in the second meeting between the teams with just over six minutes to play to take the lead in the game's final minute. However, Sacred Heart responded with the game's final five points en route to a three-point victory.

* Sophomore Latif Rivers averaged 20.0 points per game against the Pioneers a year ago while Sacred Heart's Shane Gibson notched an average of 25.5 points per game against the Seahawks, highlighted by a 34-point performance in the teams' second meeting.

* Murray and senior Chris Martin also averaged double-figures against Sacred Heart a year ago with 18.0 and 14.0 points per game, respectively. Martin has converted 13-of-23 against the Pioneers over his last three games against the Nutmeg State institution, averaging 18.7 ppg during that time.

* Wagner is coming off a hard-fought 73-66 loss to LIU Brooklyn (1/21) on ESPNU before a school-record crowd of 2,412, snapping its eight-game winning streak.

* The record crowd topped the previous high of 2,327, which was recorded on March 12, 2003 in the school's NEC Championship Game victory over St. Francis (NY).

* The games are also the only two times in school history that Wagner has hosted an ESPN game. The match-up with the Blackbirds (1/21) also was the first-ever regular season telecast on the worldwide sports network at the Spiro Sports Center.

* The Seahawks previous game on ESPNU this year, a 59-54 win at #15 Pitt, was the Green & White's first-ever regular season broadcast on an ESPN affiliate. Adam Amin handled the play-by-play duties for both games.

* Prior to the game, Murray was honored for scoring his 1,000th point at Santa Clara. He is currently 32nd on the all-time Wagner scoring list with 1,082 career points after recording 11 against LIU Brooklyn (1/21). Martin is just 47 away from becoming the 39th member of the exclusive 1,000-point club.

* The Seahawks wore their alternate color grey uniforms for the first time against the Blackbirds (1/21).

* In the second half, the Green & White shot a season-low 28.2 percent (11-39) from the floor, including a season-worst 10.0 percent (1-10) from long range, but did post a +8 advantage on the glass - including +11 on the offensive end - leading to a 17-2 advantage in second-chance points.

* Freshman Mario Moody recorded his second career double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. The Garden State native also added three blocks and has notched double-figures in scoring and rebounding twice on the year.

* Moody has a combined 28 points (14.0 ppg) and 21 rebounds (10.5 rpg) over 43 minutes (21.5 mpg) against Bryant (1/12) and LIU Brooklyn (1/21), but just nine points (1.0 ppg) and 12 rebounds (1.3 rpg) over 42 minutes (4.7 mpg) in his other nine games. 

* Wagner not lost back-to-back games all season, winning in each game following its previous three losses.

* On television this year the Seahawks have an impressive 8-2 record and will play each of their remaining six home games on TV.

* Wagner's 73-61 victory over St. Francis (NY) (1/19) was its eighth-straight, giving the Seahawks their longest winning streak since ripping off 16-straight under P.J. Carlesimo in the 1978-1979 season. Additionally, the Seahawks' current 15-4 start is their best since 1955-1956 (20-2 start) and the NEC's best since CCSU began 1999-2000 with a 19-2 mark.

* In the win over the Terriers (1/19), the Green & White forced 23 turnovers leading to a 28-6 advantage in points off turnovers. Additionally, all seven of SFNY's first-half miscues resulted in Wagner points, leading to a 15-2 advantage in points off turnovers.

* The Seahawks swept the season-series from St. Francis (NY) for the first time since the 2004-2005 season, while marking just the program's third series sweep against a NEC opponent since the 2008-2009 season.

* After halftime in the Green & White's six NEC victories, Wagner has outscored its opposition by 11.0 points per game while shooting a blistering 51.3 percent, compared to just a combined 38.4 percent for its six opponents, and 38.9 percent from long range, compared to 22.5 percent for the opposition.

* Wagner has 15 wins while topping last year's total of 13 and with three more would match the school's win total of the two previous years combined. Its eight road victories supersede the total of seven accrued over the last two years.

* The Seahawks are 7-3 in games decided by 10 points or less and are an eye-popping 15-1 when leading with five minutes to play.

* 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 14th in the nation with a +4.1 turnover margin. #1 Syracuse paces the nation with a + 7.2 turnover margin. All told, Wagner has won the turnover battle in 16-of-19 this year.

* Besides leading the NEC in turnover margin, Wagner also paces the league in scoring margin (+9.2) (51st NCAA), fewest turnovers (12.8) (79th NCAA), field goal percentage defense (.408) (80th), blocked shots (4.4) (67th NCAA) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.03) (108th NCAA). The Seahawks are also second in the league in scoring offense (73.9 ppg) (66th NCAA) and scoring defense (64.7 ppg), (115th NCAA).

* The Green & White are 12-0 when limiting the opposition to under 70 points, 11-1 when scoring at least 70.

* Both teams are excellent at the line with the Seahawks converting on 74.3 percent (2nd NEC) and the Pioneers 74.1 percent (3rd NEC).

* Today's key match-up will be the Wagner defense against Shane Gibson, the NEC's leading scorer at 20.7 points per game. Additionally, during NEC-play his scoring average jumps to 25.0 points per game as the Sacred Heart star has notched at least 23 points in four-straight games and in five-of-six since returning to NEC play.

* Wagner leads the all-time series with Sacred Heart by a 14-12 count, but have lost four-of-six since besting the Pioneers 100-92 in a double-overtime thriller on February 14, 2008.

* In the last few weeks, head coach Dan Hurley and his Seahawk team have been featured on ESPN and in the New York Times, Slam Magazine, the USA Today and the Wall Street Journal. Hurley is 28-21 (15-11 NEC) over his two years in Grymes Hill.

* 34th year Pioneer head coach Dave Bike has been a part of 24 (10-14) of the 26 meetings between the schools and is the second-longest tenured coach in D-I, behind just Jim Boeheim of Syracuse. The 1969 SHU graduate has led his alma mater to 516 victories on the hardwood after retiring from professional baseball, where he reached Triple A in the Tigers' organization.

* Freshman Hugo Naurais was in uniform but did not play vs. LIU Brooklyn (1/21) after missing the previous 12 games.

* Over his last four games, Murray is averaging 13.8 points per game while shooting 52.4 percent (11-21) from long range and is converting a NEC-best 50.0 percent (44-88) from beyond the arc.

* Rivers leads the team in scoring (15.1 ppg) (12th NEC) while Williams is next up at 13.4 points per game (15th NEC), including a team-best 15.3 points per game during NEC-play.

* Murray rounds out the double-figure scorers for the Green & White at 12.5 points per game (17th NEC) while sophomore Kenneth Ortiz leads the team with 4.8 rebounds (18th NEC) and 4.0 assists per game (t-5th NEC) while pacing the entire conference with 2.0 steals per game.

* Did you know that 2006 graduate and Boston Red Sox closer Andrew Bailey and his former Oakland teammate Craig Breslow, who both reside in Connecticut, work out at the Pitt Center during the offseason.

SETTING THE SCENE
Wagner (15-4; 6-2 NEC) will look to rebound from its first loss in over a month at Sacred Heart (10-11; 4-4 NEC) tonight at 7:00 pm at the Pitt Center in the teams' long match-up of the regular season.

WITH A WIN ...
The Seahawks would avoid losing back-to-back games for the first time this season while evening its all-time record at the Pitt Center to 7-7.

MUST WATCH TV
Wagner and Sacred Heart have developed one of the better rivalries in the NEC over the previous seven years, as 10 of the last 12 games between the teams have been decided by 10 points or less, including six by five or less. Last year, the Green & White rallied from a five-point deficit with 47 seconds to play to post a 73-68 overtime victory before the Pioneers won 79-76 in the rematch in Staten Island.

WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN
The final five Wagner home games and 8 of the last 10 overall will begin at 7:00 pm. On the year, the Seahawks are 10-2 in 7:00 pm tips.

BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG PERFORMANCES
Wagner is an impressive 8-2 in television games this year - including having won seven in a row at one point - and will play on TV in each of its final five home games - highlighted by a game on MSG against Robert Morris (2/2) in the teams' only match-up of the regular season.

LUCKY NUMBER 70
The Seahawks are a perfect 12-0 when holding the opposition to under 70 points and 11-1 when scoring at least 70 points.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN
Wagner has posted a sparkling 8-2 record on the road, one season after going just 5-12 away from the friendly confines of the Spiro Sports Center. The eight wins are tied for the most road victories in the nation and the most since the Seahawks recorded 10 during the 2007-2008 season.

15-4
The 15-4 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 record.

SCOUTING SACRED HEART
Sacred Heart is one of the top offensive teams in the league, averaging 72.9 points per game while also ranking among the top-three in the conference in field goal percentage (.452), three-point field goal percentage (.381) and free throw percentage (.751). Leading the Pioneer attack is junior Shane Gibson, who is averaging a league-best 20.7 points per game, including 25.0 per game during NEC-play, while shooting a blistering 51.0 percent from the floor, 45.0 percent from long range and 84.8 percent from the line. Classmate Justin Swidowski, who has missed the last three games, is next up with 11.7 points and a team-best 5.6 rebounds per game.
 
MONTES BREAKS OUT
After averaging just 5.5 points and 4.0 rebounds per game over the first 19 games, Sacred Heart sophomore Louis Montes scored 49 points (24.5 ppg) while pulling down 19 rebounds (9.5 rpg) en route to earning Northeast Conference (NEC) Player of the Week honors last week.

LONG TIME COMING
The Seahawks posted five victories in December, which is the most in the month since the 1986-1987 season when the Green & White won six.

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 senior Chris Martin, who has 953 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 notching three swats against LIU Brooklyn (1/21), the Republic of Benin native has 85, ranking eighth in school history. Folahan, who is averaging 4.6 points and 4.3 rebounds per game, and is one off Dave Smolka (86) for seventh place. 

CLOSING IT OUT
The Seahawks are 15-1 when leading with five minutes to play thanks to shooting an impressive 83.3percent (45-54) from the line in the final minute this season.

CLOSING IT OUT PART 2
Wagner 7-3 in games decided by 10 points or less while shooting 77.3 percent (58-75) from the line over the last five minutes of those games.

FIRST TIME
Despite holding the Northeast Conference's best overall record, the Seahawks hadn't won a Choice Hotels Player of the Week citation until Rivers averaged 18.7 points per game while pacing the team in scoring in victories over #15 Pitt (12/23), Air Force (12/29) and Santa Clara (12/30). The reason? Balance. The Seahawks routinely go 10-deep and have three players - Rivers (15.1) (12th NEC), Williams (13.4) (15th NEC) and Murray (12.5) (17th NEC) - averaging double-figures in scoring.

MOODY NOTCHES SECOND DOUBLE-DOUBLE
Moody was a force in the second half against LIU Brooklyn (1/21), recording 10 points and six rebounds en route to game totals of 12 and 10 for his second double-double, after previously recording 16 markers and 11 caroms in the win over Bryant (1/12). After missing the start of the year due to an injury, Moody is averaging 3.4 points and 2.9 rebounds per game.

BOOST FROM THE BENCH
Rookies Marcus Burton and 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). Both players recorded career-highs in scoring with 10 points and 16 points, respectively.

DURING NEC PLAY
Wagner is outscoring the opposition by an average of 12.5 points per game while posting five double-digit wins. Additionally the Seahawks are shooting 45.6 percent from the floor, including 35.3 percent from beyond the arc while limiting opposing teams to just 40.1 percent shooting, including 31.3 percent from long range.

STAT COMPARISON
Wagner: Scoring Offense (73.9 ppg) / Scoring Defense (64.7 ppg) / FG% (.440) / FG%D (.408)
SHU: Scoring Offense (72.9 ppg) / Scoring Defense (74.7 ppg) / FG% (.452) / FG%D (.449)

DON'T FORGET TO STRETCH
The Green & White will broadcast tonight's game through Stretch Internet 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 28-21 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 #WAGSHU.

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 ~ SFNY (1/19) - 20-7

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

MILESTONE WATCH
Murray (1082 points) is just six points behind John DiMaggio (1,088 points) for 31st on the all-time Green & White scoring list. Martin is also three triples behind Bobby Hopson (192) for fourth on the all-time three-point list. 

DOUBLE-DOWN
Murray has recorded double-figures a teamin scoring-best 17 times this year and in 52-of-56 games since the end of his sophomore year.  Rivers, meanwhile, has notched double-figures 15 times this year and 36times in 48 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 8.2 points per game while leading Wagner in rebounding (4.8) (18th NEC), assists (4.0) (t-5th NEC) and steals (2.0) (1st NEC) while pacing a defense that has posted a NEC-leading +4.4 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.

BIG THREE
Rivers (15.1 ppg), Williams (13.4 ppg) and Murray (12.5 ppg) have accounted for 57.5 percent (766-1331) of Wagner's offense while giving the Seahawks an array of offensive options.

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 2,035 points while converting on 40.3 percent (348-864) from long range and 75.8 percent (366-483) from the line. Murray is first in three point per centage (.431) on the Green & White's all-time rankings while Martin is ninth (.383).

20/20
The Seahawks has forced seven 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 23 FDU (1/19) turnovers in a nine-point win.

UP NEXT
Wagner will play at Quinnipiac on Saturday, January 28 at 2:00 pm.