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Staten Island, NY - Wagner jumped out to a 13-point lead at halftime and never looked back en route to posting a decisive 72-50 victory over Central Connecticut in the quarterfinal round of the 2013 Northeast Conference (NEC) Tournament before 1,035 fans at the Spiro Sports Center.

The Seahawks improve to 19-11 and will next host LIU Brooklyn on Saturday, March 9 at 12:00 pm in game that will be televised by Fox College Sports (FCS) and ESPN3. The Blue Devils, meanwhile, see their season end with a 13-17 record.

Tickets prices for Saturday's game are $10 for adults and $5 for children with VIP Courtside Seats (limited availability) slated for $30. Tickets can be purchased online by clicking HERE or by calling the Wagner ticket office at 718-420-4039.

The ticket office will be open tomorrow and Friday from 9:00am-4:00 pm and again on Saturday beginning at 8:00 am.

Despite shooting just 38.6 percent (27-of-70) from the floor, including 35.3 percent (6-of-17) from long range, Wagner was able to overcome an off night offensively with a tenacious defense effort. The Seahawks forced CCSU into just 25.0 percent (15-of-60) shooting, including a paltry 20.8 percent (5-of-24) from long range, while controlling the glass by a 55-41 total. The +14 rebounding margin led to a 38-20 advantage in the paint and a 21-12 margin in second chance points.

Senior Jonathon Williams (Richmond, CA / Kennedy / City College of San Francisco) notched at least 20 points for the third-straight game and the seventh time this season, finishing with an even 20, on 8-of-15 shooting, with six rebounds. Sophomore Marcus Burton (Charlotte, NC / David W. Butler) added 15 points, six rebounds and five assists to lead the Green & White second unit, which posted a 26-5 scoring advantage over its counterparts.

Wagner took command in the first half thanks to a suffocating defense that forced Central Connecticut into just 22.2 percent (6-of-27) shooting, including a paltry 14.3 percent (1-of-7) from long range while using a pair of big runs. Trailing 6-4 with 16:22 remaining in the first half, the Seahawks ripped off nine-straight points – highlighted by five markers from Williams – en route to building up a 13-6 lead at the 9:33 mark of the first half.

The Blue Devils would rally to cut the deficit to 20-17 with 4:20 following a Kyle Vinales three pointer. However, Burton responded with four-straight free throws and a triple to spark a half-ending 12-2 run to make it 32-19 at halftime.

CCSU trimmed the Green & White lead to 11 early in the second half, before Williams converted an old-fashioned three-point play and Burton a pair of three pointers to extend the Green & White lead to 46-26 with 14:31 to play while for all intents and purposes putting the game on ice. Wagner's advantage would not dip below 15 the rest of the way as the Seahawks would cruise to the aforementioned 72-50 victory.

Vinales scored 16 of his game-high 23 points after halftime while Malcolm McMillan added 10 points to pace CCSU. Vinales finished up the season as the NEC scoring leader at 21.6 points per game while his 649 total points are a school record.

No. 3 LIU Brooklyn advanced to the semifinal round with a 91-83 victory over No. 6 Quinnipiac. No. 1 Robert Morris and No. 5 Mount St. Mary's will square off in the second semifinal on Saturday at 2:30 pm.

NOTES:
* Wagner is now 17-24, all-time, in NEC Tournament play and 12-12 during quarterfinal action.

* The Seahawks also improved to 10-6, all-time, in NEC playoff games on Staten Island, including posting a 6-5 record in the renovated Spiro Sports Center (since 1998-1999).

* By virtue of the Green & White's victory, No. 2 seeds have now won nine-straight opening-round games and are 27-5, all-time, during quarterfinal action.

* Central Connecticut falls to 15-12, all-time, during NEC Tournament play and falls to 0-8 in true road games.

* Burton averaged 19.0 points and 6.0 assists per game over two meetings with CCSU this season and shot 55.0 percent (10-for-18) from the field, including 60.0 percent (6-for-10) from long range. He also committed just two turnovers in 47 minutes of action.

* Junior Latif Rivers (Elizabeth, NJ / Avon Old Farms (CT)) returned after missing the last two games and hit for 10 points with five rebounds. He now has 1,115 career points and is two behind Harry Orlando for 29th place.

* Wagner's 55 rebounds and its +14 rebounding margin are season-highs while the 55 caroms are the most since grabbing 56 in a 100-92 double overtime victory over Sacred Heart back on February 14, 2008.

* The Seahawks won for the 21st-straight time when limiting the opposition to less than 60 points and are a perfect 10-0 this season.

* Williams led Wagner in scoring for the 16th time this season and for the 27th time in 56 career games on Grymes Hill. Williams also went over 800 points for his career and now has 802.

* Junior Orlando Parker (Orlando, FL / Orlando Christian Prep) led the Seahawks on the glass for the third time this season with nine rebounds while adding eight points in just 16 minutes.

* Wagner advances to the semifinals for the second-straight year and the third time in the last six seasons.

Follow Wagner Athletics on Twitter (@wagnerathletics) for all the latest news and updates on the athletic department, @WagnerHoops for news and updates on the men's basketball program and @bashirmason to follow the Seahawks' first-year head coach.

Photography by Dave Saffran