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Emmitsburg, MD - Wagner (19-4; 10-2 NEC) hits the road against Mount St. Mary's (6-17; 4-8 NEC) tonight 7:00 pm in the first of back-to-back games against the Mountaineers as part of the Northeast Conference's (NEC) annual rivalry week. Under the format, each league team plays its conference-rival two times over a five-day span. The Seahawks and MSM are designated as the league's “North-South Showdown.” Fans can follow today's action through for a nominal fee through the Mount Athletic website or can listen live for free through the Seahawk Broadcasting Network by clicking HERE

QUICK HITS
* The Green & White will be looking for its 20th victory of the season while becoming the first NEC team to hit the plateau on the year. It would also be just the sixth time in school history, including just the fourth time in the Division I era (since 1976-1977) that Wagner notched at least 20 wins.

* Additionally, the Seahawks would clinch a playoff berth in the upcoming league tournament with a victory.

* The Green & White's 19-4 record comes just two seasons after Wagner went 4-19 and represents a stunning revival in just Dan Hurley's second year at the helm. The former Seton Hall standout holds a 32-21 career record with the Seahawks and is the second-fastest coach in school history to 30 wins.

* Wagner's 19 victories also supersede its combined win total of 18 from the last two years combined.

* The Seahawks' 10-2 NEC start matches the 2002-2003 and 2007-2008 teams for the best-ever conference start. After halftime in those 12 games, the Green & White is limiting the opposition to just 20.5 percent (17-83) from long range.

* Wagner was ranked in the weekly College Insider Mid-Major Top-25 poll for the seventh-straight week, again checking in at 24th.

* The Seahawks have not lost back-to-back games this year.

* The Green & White moved up seven sports in the most recent NCAA RPI rankings and are the NEC's top-ranked team at #75.

* Sophomore #Latif# Rivers averaged 19.0 points per game en route to earning his second Choice Hotels NEC Player of the Week accolade. Rivers began the week with a season-best matching 28 points in Wagner's 80-69 victory over Robert Morris (2/2) before depositing all 10 of his points against Saint Francis (PA) (2/4) in the first half while helping the Seahakws open up a 15-point halftime lead en route to an easy  72-54 win. Rivers drained 15 throws, which matching RMU's Velton Jones for the highest by a NEC Player this year and are the most by a member of the Green & White since Terrance Bailey converted a school-record 18 at Marist on February 1, 1986.

* Rivers earned his first citation on January 2 after leading Wagner to wins over #15 Pitt, Air Force and Santa Clara and recorded a school-record seven Choice Hotels NEC Rookie of the Week awards a year ago.

* Rivers has 10 career 20-point games, as the Seahawks are now 9-1 over the last two years when the sophomore guard hits for at least 20 and a perfect 4-0 this season. For his career, he has 760 points (14.3 ppg) in just 53 games and notched 28 in both Green & White MSG telecasts this year (Monmouth (1/7); RMU (2/2)). In those games, Rivers shot 56.5 percent (13-23), 46.7 percent (7-15) from long range and 88.5 percent (23-26) from the line.

* Wagner is currently tied for second in the NCAA ranks with 10 road wins and will look to match Cleveland State for the NCAA lead tonight against Mount St. Mary's. Additionally, one more victory would give the Seahawks a D-1 school-record nine-game winning streak away from the Spiro Sports Center while also setting school-record for road wins (11) in a season.

* Did you know? This Green & White team got to 10 wins quicker than any other team in school history and with a victory against the Mountaineers would also reach 20 faster than any previous team.

* In the win over the Red Flash (2/4), Wagner pulled down a season-best 50 rebounds, which were the most by the Seahawks since collecting 50 caroms in a 78-67 win at FDU on February 28, 2008.

* Junior Josh Thompson led the onslaught against SFPA (2/4), grabbing a team-best 10 caroms while notching 11 points for his first career double-double. Additionally, Thompson grabbed seven offensive boards that directly led to 10 second-chance points among his 11.

* Thompson's 10 caroms are the most for the redshirt-junior since grabbing 11 against Bucknell (11/28/09) in his fourth collegiate game.

* Also against the Red Flash (2/4), Thompson became just the fifth-different Seahawk to lead the team in scoring this year, matching junior Jonathon Williams with 11 points. Senior Tyler Murray, Rivers and Williams have paced the Green & White in scoring in every game this year except for when senior Chris Martin scored a season-high 15 in a win over Hofstra (12/6).

* Rivers, the reigning NEC Player of the Week, has paced the squad in scoring a team-best 11 times with Wagner going 9-2 during that time.

* Since losing at LIU Brooklyn on December 1, the Seahawks are an outstanding 12-1, winning eight of those games by double-figures while posting a +10.2 point differential. During that time, Rivers is averaging a team-best 16.5 points per game while shooting a blistering 41.5 percent (34-82) from long range and 90.7 percent (49-54) from the line. Williams (11.8 ppg) and Murray (11.5 ppg) are each also averaging double-figures while sophomore Kenneth Ortiz checks in with 7.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game.

* Over its current four-game winning, Wagner has held the opposition to just 56.8 points per game, including limiting Sacred Heart (1/26) and Quinnipiaic (1/28) to season-lows in points, while forcing the four teams into just 37.4 percent shooting, including a miniscule 21.1 percent (12-57) from long range.

* The 51 points scored in the win over the Bobcats (1/28) was the fewest scored in a Seahawk win since the Green & White bested Robert Morris 51-48 on February 6, 1993.

* With the one-point victory over Quinnipiac (1/28), Wagner is 8-3 in games decided by 10 points or less, including going 4-2 in games decided by five points or fewer. Over the last two years, Dan Hurley's teams are 14-9 in five-point games.

* Ortiz provided the difference against the Bobcats (1/28), when the sophomore point guard split a pair from the line with just 4.6 seconds remaining. Ortiz made the play possible with an offensive carom off Murray's missed shot from the left corner that was eerily similar to the Santa Clara (12/30) game, in which the Newark native hit an improbable shot from the left corner following a Murray miss. Ortiz also converted a pair of go-ahead free throws with 28 seconds remaining in a four-point victory over NCCU (11/16).

* Ortiz's rebound that set up the game-winning play also was his team-best sixth of the game. The 6-0 point guard has paced the squad on the glass on eight different occasions with Wagner going a perfect 8-0 in those games. On the year, Ortiz leads team and ranks 19th in the NEC in rebounding (4.8 rpg) while also pacing the team with 1.9 steals (2nd NEC) and 3.9 assists (8th NEC) per game.

* Against RMU (2/2) the Seahawks jumped out to a 14-2 lead before opening up a 12-2 advantage against SFPA (2/4) while forcing the teams into a combined 2-for-22 shooting over 18:50 in building up insurmountable leads in both games.

* Wagner also scored 44 first-half points against RMU (2/2), which were the most allowed by the Colonials this year. Coming into the game, RMU had the league's top scoring defense, yielding an average of just 63.0 points per game. Additionally, Velton Jones and Coron Williams were held to just 17 points, on 4-of-21 shooting. Last year in the NEC Tournament, the duo combined for 45 points, on 12-of-17 shooting while helping eliminate the Seahawks.

* The Green & White's lucky number 70 was again on display against SFPA (2/4) as Wagner improved to 16-0 when holding the opposition under 70 and 14-1 when hitting for 70. Additionally, the Green & White moved to an incredible 19-1 when leading with five minutes to play.

* In the win at Sacred Heart (1/26), Murray drained a career-best seven threes en route to a season-best 21 points. The Canadian native is converting a NEC-best 52.9 percent (54-102) and also ranks 15th in field goal percentage (.479) while converting 81.5 percent from the line.

* Additionally, he has gone over 20 points on 11 occasions in his career while recording double-figures in 54 of his last 60 games. Murray has been red-hot of late, draining 22-of-38 (.578) from long range over the last eight games. The Canadian native has also converted a school-record 44.0 percent (170-386) from long range over his four years en route to 1,127 career points (28th all-time at Wagner). If his 52.4 percent (55-105) conversion rate this year holds up it would also set a single-season school record.

* Over the last three games, the starting backcourt of Ortiz, Murray and Rivers have pressured the opposing starting backcourts into just 21.3 percent (16-75) shooting.

* The Green & White's 73-61 victory over St. Francis (NY) (1/19) was its eighth-straight, while giving Wagner its longest winning streak since ripping off 16-straight under P.J. Carlesimo in the 1978-1979 season. Additionally, the Seahawks' current 19-4 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.

* Wagner leads the NEC and ranks 17th in the nation in winning percentage (.826), while also pacing the league in in turnover margin (+3.7) (18th NCAA), scoring margin (+9.7) (42nd NCAA), field goal percentage defense (.402) (52nd NCAA), , blocked shots (4.4) (62nd NCAA), scoring defense (63.3) (83rd NCAA), fewest turnovers (13.0) (103rd NCAA), and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.0) (140th NCAA). The Seahawks are also second in the league in free throw percentage (.755) (21st NCAA), three point percentage (.371) (57th NCAA) and scoring offense (73.0 ppg) (77th NCAA). Additionally, the Green & White are among the top-100 in the NCAA in three-point field goal defense (.318) (78th NCAA) and steals per game (7.5) (89th NCAA).

* Hurley's assistant and brother Bobby Hurley was recently named as one of the 35 greatest McDonald's All-Americans in the 35-year history of the game. Joining the former Duke All-American on the list were his former teammates Christian Laettner and Grant Hill. Hurley helped the Blue Devils to a pair of National Titles and three Final Fours.

SETTING THE SCENE
Wagner (19-4; 10-2 NEC) returns to action tonight at 7:00 pm with the first of two-straight games against Mount St. Mary's (6-17; 4-8 NEC) at the Knott Center.

RIVALRY WEEK TAKE THREE
For the third-straight year the Seahawks and the Mountaineers will square off in back-to-back games. Last year, each team won at home after MSM swept the season series in 2009-2010.

TURNOVER NOTES
Wagner is 19-4 this season thanks in large part to winning the turnover battle in 17 of its 23 games, including eight of its 12 NEC games.

BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG PERFORMANCES
With their wins over RMU (2/2) and SFPA (2/4), the Seahawks improved to 10-2 in television games, including a perfect 6-0 on Time Warner. The Green & White will appear on the channel in each one of its final three home games.

THE COACHES
Wagner head coach Dan Hurley is 32-21 in this his second year on Grymes Hill while his counterpart Robert Burke is 17-38 in this his second year in Emmitsburg.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN
The Seahawks have built an impressive 10-2 record on the road this season thanks to a stingy defense that has limited the opposition to just 64.3 points per game, on 41.5 percent shooting, including a miniscule 31.4 percent from long range. Away from home, Rivers is averaging a team-best 15.2 points per game while Murray is converting on 57.9 percent (33-57) from downtown en route to 13.1 points per game.

INTERESTING
Despite its stellar record on the road, the Green & White is being outrebounded by an average of 4.6 rebounds per game away from the Spiro Sports Center and has won the battle of the boards just once.

BIG THREE
Wagner's big three of Rivers (15.0 ppg), Williams (12.7 ppg) and Murray (12.3 ppg) has accounted for 53.9 percent (906/1680) of the team's scoring.

KNOTT NOTES
The Seahawks have lost each of their last four games at Knott Arena and five-of-six dating back to the the 2006-2007 season. This year season the Mountaineers are just 3-7 at home, including 2-4 during league play.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
Mount St. Mary's is averaging just 59.6 points per game while boasting just one double-digit scorer in Julian Norfleet, who is averaging 13.1 points per game to go along with 4.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. Freshman walk-on Kelvin Parker is second on the team in scoring at 8.7 points per game while pulling down 4.0 rebounds per game. Last week, Parker earned Choice Hotels NEC Rookie of the Week accolades, notching 18.5 points per game while shooting 51.9 percent from the floor, including converting on 50.0 percent (7-14) from long range.

PARKER, CASTELLANOS MATCH UP
Former high school teammate sophomore Orlando Parker and Josh Castellanos will square off today. The duo helped Orlando Christian Prep to three straight Class 1A State Championships as prep teammates. Parker is averaging 4.2 points and 3.1 rebounds per game and is coming off a 10-point, 6-rebound performance against SFPA (2/4), despite playing just 12 minutes. Castellanos is averaging 8.4 points and 4.2 assists per game.

THOMPSON TAKES OFF
Thompson recorded his first career double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds against SFPA (2/4). Interestingly, his performance was the fifth double-double of the season for Wagner with all five coming at home.

19-4
The 19-4 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.

KEY MATCH-UP
Wagner's Offense vs. Mount's Defense. Wagner is second in the NEC at 73.0 points per game while the Mount is last at 59.6 points per game. To compensate, the Mountaineers are limiting opposing teams to 67.0 points per game (3rd NEC). MSM will have to try and contain a Seahawk attack that is extremely balanced and great at creating offense off of defense. Playing into the Green & White's hands is that the Mountaineers are last in the league in turnover margin (-3.09) and assist/turnover ratio (0.67).

THE SERIES
Wagner leads the all-time series against Mount St. Mary's by a 22-17 margin and won the last meeting by a 70-65 count in Staten Island, but has lost five of the last seven meetings.

A YEAR AGO ...
Murray averaged a team-best 14.5 points per game over the two match-ups with the Mount while Rivers (13.0 ppg) and Parker (11.0 ppg) also averaged in double-figures.

LAST MATCH-UP WITH MSM
The Seahawks jumped out to a 13-point second-half lead only to see the Mountaineers trim the deficit to one before the Green & White closed the game out with four-straight free throws en route to a 70-65 victory. Murray led four double-figure scorers with 16 points while adding six assists, against just one turnover, over 38 minutes of action.

WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN
The final five Wagner home games and seven of the last eight will begin at 7:00 pm. On the year, the Seahawks are 11-2 in 7:00 pm tips.

CLOSING IT OUT
The Green & White are 19-1 when leading with five minutes to play thanks to shooting an impressive 82.5 percent (52-63) from the line in the final minute this season.

CLOSING IT OUT PART 2
Wagner is 8-3 in games decided by 10 points or less while shooting 76.6 percent (59-77) from the line over the last five minutes of those games.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN
The Green & White has posted a sparkling 11-2 record away from the Spiro Sports Center, one season after going just 5-12 away from Grymes Hill. The 10 true road wins are tied with Iona for the second-most in the nation.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN (X2)
The Seahawks 11 road/neutral wins are tied for fourth in the nation, two behind Iona's total of 13.

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

RIVERS STELLAR FROM THE LINE
Rivers is 11th in the NCAA and second in the league at the free throw line, converting on 89.6 percent (86-96). He is also among the league-leaders in three-point shooting (.368) (13th NEC) and threes/game (2.0) (t-11th NEC). 

ORTIZ MAKING WAVES ON THE ISLAND
In his first season on Staten Island, Ortiz has filled up the stat sheets, averaging 7.7 points per game while leading Wagner in rebounding (4.8) (19th NEC), assists (3.9) (8th NEC) and steals (1.9) (2nd NEC). Ortiz also paces a defense that has posted a NEC-leading +3.7 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, after capping the event with his game-winning shot at Santa Clara (12/30).

FOLAHAN BLOCK PARTY
Sophomore Naofall Folahan, who leads the NEC and ranks 50th nationally with 2.0 blocks per game, recently cracked the Seahawks' top-10 list for blocked shots. After notching two vs. Saint Francis (PA)(2/4), the Republic of Benin native has 90, ranking seventh in school history. Folahan is also averaging 4.7 points and 4.0 rebounds per game.

MOODY NOTCHES SECOND DOUBLE-DOUBLE
Freshman Mario 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 notching 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 4.1 points and 3.9 rebounds per game.

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 966 career points.

MILESTONE WATCH
Murray (1,127 points) is just two points behind Oliver Featherston (1,129 points) for 27th on the all-time Seahawk scoring list. Murray is also 15 three pointers behind Jeff Klauder (185) for seventh. 

DURING NEC PLAY
The Green & White are outscoring the opposition by an average of 12.4 points per game while posting six double-digit wins on the way to a 10-2 record. Additionally, Wagner is shooting 44.5 percent from the floor, including 37.2 from beyond the arc, while limiting opposing teams to just 39.2 percent shooting, including 27.38 from long range.

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 - SHU (1/21) - 14-7

DOUBLE-DOWN
Murray has recorded double-figures a team-best 19 times this year and in 54-of-60 games since the end of his sophomore year.  Rivers, meanwhile, has has matched Murray with double-figures in 19 games and 40 times in 53 career games en route to 760 career points. Murray (11) and Rivers (10) have also hit for at least 20 points a combined 21 times.

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 2,091 points while converting on 40.6 percent (360-887) from long range and 76.2 percent (378-496) from the line.

20/20
The Seahawks have pressured seven opponents into at least 20 turnovers this season. The Green & White forced a season-high 28 against Princeton (11/12), which are the most caused by Wagner since December 4, 2001 when Iona turned it over 28 times.

MARYLAND
With a win today, the Seahawks would have victories from 10 different states (CA, CO, CT, DE, MD, NC, NJ, NY, PA, RI).

UP NEXT
Wagner and Mount St. Mary's will meet again on Saturday, February 11 at 7:00 pm at the Spiro Sports Center.