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West Long Branch, NJ - Sophomore Latif Rivers (Elizabeth, NJ / Avon Old Farms (CT)) scored 17 of his game-high 28 points after halftime in lifting Wagner to an 89-79 come-from-behind victory over Monmouth. The Seahawks' fifth-straight win away from Staten Island was broadcast before a regionally televised audience on MSG+, as the Green & White notched a season-best matching 54-second half points in improving to 12-3 (3-1 NEC) while the Hawks fall to 3-13 (1-3 NEC).

Wagner, which has now won five-straight for the first time since the 2007-2008 season, will next be in action against Bryant on Thursday, January 12 at 7:00 pm at the Spiro Sports Center as the Seahawks return home for the first time since December 10.

Rivers, the reigning Choice Hotels NEC Co-Player of the Week, is averaging 20.6 points per game while shooting 54.1 percent (33-61) from the floor, 47.2 percent (17-36) from beyond the arc and a blistering 95.2 percent (20-21) from the line during the Green & White's current five-game winning streak.

Wagner shot a blistering 54.0 percent (27-50) from the floor, including 57.7 percent (15-26) after halftime, and converted an impressive 70.0 percent (21-30) from inside the arc. Monmouth, meanwhile, shot 46.0 percent (29-63) for the game, including a 51.6 percent (16-31) figure in the opening half that figured prominently in the Hawks' 41-35 lead at intermission. Monmouth also won the battle of the boards (34-33), including posting a 14-8 advantage on the offensive end.

The Seahawks quickly erased the six-point halftime deficit with nine-straight points to start the second half. Junior Jonathon Williams (Richmond, CA / Kennedy / CC of San Francisco) got things rolling with a layup and a pair from the line before Rivers converted two of his own, tying the game at 41-41 with 18:46 to play. After forcing a turnover on the ensuing possession, Rivers missed a three only to have sophomore Naofall Folahan (Cotonou, Republic of Benin / Wilbraham and Monson Academy) corrall the offensive rebound before kicking it out to senior Tyler Murray (Toronto, Ontario / Eastern Commerce). The Canadian native then faked a pass before draining a triple, capping a 9-0 run while giving the Green & White an insurmountable 44-41 lead with 18:07 to play.

The Hawks rallied to tie the game up at 46-46, before Wagner ripped off eight-straight points, in opening up a 54-46 lead with 14:21 to play. Rivers bookended the run with a jumper to start the spurt and a pair from the line to close it. All told, the Seahawks outscored Monmouth 19-5 to start the second and would not trail again.

Despite leading the rest of the way, the game was not without excitement. The Hawks whittled the lead down to at 62-60 with 8:49 to play after five-straight points and were in position to tie or take the lead before Williams drew a charge on a fastbreak attempt, quelling the run while swinging the momentum. Freshman Marcus Burton (Charlotte, NC / David W. Butler) then broke free for a layup before sophomore Kenneth Ortiz (Newark, NJ / Science Park / Southern Mississippi) converted an old-fashioned three-point play, pushing the lead back out to seven with 7:52 to play.

Monmouth would cut the lead back to two on two more occasions only to see the Green & White answer each time. Rivers hit a jumper on the first occasion before draining three free throws the second time, pushing the lead back out to five at 74-69 with 3:55 to play. On the ensuing possession, Rivers hit another jumper to extend the lead to seven as Wagner would not be threatened again en route to an 89-79 victory.

Rivers scored his game-high 28 points, on 8-of-14 shooting while also converting 4-of-9 from long range and 8-of-9 from the line.  Williams was next with 16 points while Ortiz rounded out the double-digit scorers with 10 points and a game-best seven rebounds. Burton scored a career-best eight points and despite standing just 6-0, blocked three shots over a career-high 18 minutes of action. All 10 Seahawks that played scored as the team effort lifted the Green & White to their first-ever win in the Hawks' state-of-the-art Multipurpose Activity Center.

Monmouth was in control for most of the first half, holding a lead of 33-27 with 3:53 to play when Wagner made its first big run of the game. Rivers canned a three pointer before Burton converted a layup. Freshman Mario Moody (East Orange, NJ / East Orange Campus) then tied the game up with a free throw before Rivers knocked down a jumper, capping an 8-0 spurt that put Wagner in front at 35-33 with 1:38 until halftime. However, the Hawks answered with eight-straight points and held a 41-35 lead at intermission.

Steele led all scorers in the first half with 17 of his 20 points while converting on all seven of his field goals. Freshman Andrew Nicholas chipped in with 10 poins as Monmouth converted on 50.0 percent (12-24) from the floor while parlaying an 8-5 turnover advantage into a 10-2 margin in points off turnovers.

Joining Steele in double-figures for the game was Mike Myers Keitt, who scored 11 of his 16 points after halftime and the aforementioned Nicolas (10 points).

Notes:
* Wagner is off to its best start since the 1968-1969 season, when the Seahawks also opened the year with a 12-3 record.

* In the Green & White's five-game winning streak, Rivers is averaging a blistering 20.6 points per game. During that time, he is shooting 54.1 percent (33-61) from the floor, 47.2 percent (17-36) from long range and 95.2 percent (20-21) from the line while pacing the team in scoring in four of those games.

* This week, Rivers averaged 23.5 points per game while shooting 60.0 percent (15-25) from the floor and 46.7 percent (7-15) from deep. Additionally, over two career games against Monmouth the Garden State native has 55 points (27.5 ppg) while connecting on 18-of-33 (.545) from the floor - highlighted by 30 points after halftime that helped put away the Hawks both times. Today's 28-point output was two off his career high of 30 set on January 20, 2011 against Quinnipiac.

* Over the last two years, Wagner is an impressive 7-1 when Rivers notches at least 20 points.

* The Seahawks' season-best 54 second-half points match their previous second-half total notched in a 40-point win over St. Francis (NY) (12/3).

* Despite the win, the Green & White failed to win the turnover battle for just the second time this season after doing so in its previous 11 games.

* Today's game was broadcast as part of the Northeast Conference television package with former Wagner coach Tim Capstraw and Paul Dottino handling the broadcast duties. The Seahawks improved to 7-1 on the year when playing before a televised audience. The Green & White's next game, on Thursday against Bryant will be televised by Time Warner Cable.

* Head Coach Dan Hurley has started his second conference campaign with a 3-1 record after opening up at 4-0 last season. Through 45 games, he holds a 25-20 career record (12-10 NEC).

* Wagner improved to 6-2 in games decided by 10 points or less and is 9-1 when scoring at least 70 points.

* Additionally, the Seahawks are 11-1 when leading with five minutes to play and 5-1 in Saturday games with seven more to play on the day.

* The Green & White's five-game winning streak away from Staten Island is the longest by Wagner since the Seahawks won five in a row on the road during their NEC Championship Season of 2002-2003.

* Senior Tyler Murray (Toronto, Ontario / Eastern Commerce) scored seven points while moving past James Ulrich into 36th place on the Green & White's all-time scoring list. Classmate Chris Martin (Sicklerville, NJ / Apex Academies) notched eight points and is now 60 short of 1,000 for his career. He also has 188 career three pointers, ranking fifth in the program history.

* All-time leading scorer and NEC First Ballot Hall of Famer Terrance Bailey was in attendance with his family. Also attending the game was 2011 graduate Cliff Spiller.

* Wagner has now won two-straight and five-of-six against Monmouth. The Hawks lead the all-time series by a 32-22 margin.

* Long Island and Central Connecticut State today defeated Quinnipiac and Robert Morris, respectively, and are tied for first place in the NEC at 4-0.

* The Seahawks and the Blue Devils will square off on Saturday at the Spiro Sports Center.

* The Green & White improved to 7-2 on the road after going 7-26 over the last two season away from Staten Island.

* Ortiz led the team in rebounding for the third-straight game ranks 18th in the NEC with 5.1 rebounds per game despite standing just 6-0.