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Staten Island, NY - Wagner (9-10; 3-3 NEC) returns to action at LIU Brooklyn (7-12; 2-4 NEC) on Thursday, January 30 at 7:00 pm. As always, fans can watch today's game for free through
NEC Front Row with Joey Wahler bringing you the the free audio broadcast through
Red Zone Media beginning at 6:50 pm.
Top Storylines
#1 - Wagner returns to the road in search of its second-straight season sweep of LIU Brooklyn.
#2 - The Seahawks won the first meeting between the teams by an 84-70 margin on January 11.
#3 - Wagner has won three of the last four match-ups betweens the teams thanks to averaging a blistering 86.5 points per game and forcing 18.0 turnovers each time out.
Quick Hits
*In the Seahawks' 84-70 win earlier this month against the 3x defending NEC Champion Blackbirds, the Green & White dominated the glass by a 43-36 advantage while posting a 46-22 advantage on points in the paint.
* Over the final 12-plus minutes of the game, Wagner outscored LIU Brooklyn 36-22 while shooting 65.0 percent (13-of-20) and holding the visitors to just 33.3 percent (5-of-15).
* Leading the charge was junior
Mario Moody, who paced all players with a career-high matching 19 points, on 8-of-10 shooting, with 10 rebounds.
* Over five career games with the Blackbirds, Moody is averaging 14.8 points and 7.8 rebounds each time out with two double-doubles while shooting 65.9 percent (29-of-44) from the field.
* Moody has notched his aforementioned career-high of 19 points on four occasions with three of those games coming against the Blackbirds - all Seahawk wins - and is coming off a big week that saw him score 15 points and grab eight rebounds against both Robert Morris and CCSU.
* On the year, he ranks among the NEC leaders in scoring (9.5-26th), rebounding (6.7-4th) and blocks (1.3-7th). During league play, his numbers go up to 12.5 points and 8.0 rebounds per game to go along with an impressive 60.8 percent (31-of-51) shooting clip.
* The last time Wagner traveled to LIU Brooklyn, the Seahawks posted an 86-75 victory over the Blackbirds while snapping their hosts' 31-game winning streak at the Wellness Recreation and Athletic Center (WRAC).
* In that victory, the Green & White also shot 90.0 percent (9-of-10) from long range in setting a NEC record, breaking the previous mark of 88.9 percent (8-of-9) set by Marist against St. Francis Brooklyn on February 21, 1991.
* The last time out at Robert Morris, senior
Naofall Folahan recorded his first career double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds while also adding four blocks over 30 minutes of action. Folahan, who was 5-for-8 from the floor and a perfect 4-for-4 from the line, hit for double-digits for the 10th time in his career and the first time since last year's opener at Delaware State. Additionally, his 12 caroms marked the fourth time in his career that Folahan has notched double-figures on the glass.
* Folahan, who is averaging 9.5 points and 8.0 rebounds over his last two outings, broke Frantz Pierre-Louis' 14-year school-record for blocks at CCSU and now has 188 blocks while ranking 39th nationally with a league-best 2.5 blocks per game. Folahan has also blocked four or more shots on 13 occasions with the Green & White going 10-3 in those games and is also ninth in the circuit with 5.3 rebounds each time out.
* Thanks to Moody (15) and Folahan (14) the frontcourt outscored the backcourt for the second time this season at RMU by a 36-34 count as the duo along with senior
Orlando Parker (7 points) shot 56.0 percent (14-of-25) from the field.
* Over his last three games, Parker is averaging 9.3 points and 6.0 rebounds per game.
* Senior
Latif Rivers led Wagner in scoring at Robert Morris for the 32nd time in his career, finishing with 19 points on the strength of a season-high four three pointers. Rivers had misfired on all five of his attempts against CCSU and had been 1-for-10 over his previous four games. He is 15th in school history with 1,372 points.
* Rivers also notched double-figures in scoring for the 76th time in his 98-game career and ranks among the league leaders in scoring (14.4 ppg, 9th), field goal percentage (.477, 10th) and free throw percentage (.788, 8th). Since the start of NEC play, he is averaging 13.7 points per game while shooting 51.6 percent (33-of-64) from the floor.
* Sophomore
Marcus Burton saw his double-figure scoring streak snapped at six games, but continues to pace the squad in scoring during NEC play at 14.0 points per game while shooting 44.1 percent (26-of-59), including 41.4 percent (12-of-29) from deep, and 87.0 percent (20-of-23) from the line.
* Burton continues to be the highest scoring reserve in the circuit, averaging 10.8 points per game (23rd NEC) and has paced the squad in scoring five times despite coming off the bench in all 18 of his games. The North Carolina native also ranks second in the NEC in free throw shooting (.872) (41-of-77), including converting all eight of his attempts in games decided by 10 points or less.
* Thanks to Burton and Moody, the Seahawk bench has outscored its counterparts in five of the Green & White's six NEC games, averaging 33.5 points per game while outscoring its counterparts by an average of 16.7 points each time out and is shooting 50.7 percent (75-of-148) from the field, including 42.0 percent (21-of-50) from deep.
* Senior
Kenneth Ortiz had a solid week in games against Central Connecticut and Robert Morris, averaging 12.5 points, 4.5 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 2.5 steals. He capped his week in Moon Township with nine points, six assists, four rebounds and two steals while turning the ball over just once.
* The Southern Mississippi transfer ranks among the league leaders in scoring (12.3-15th), assists (4.3-8th), steals (1.6-t-3rd) and free throw percentage (.728-12th) while posting a 1.50 assist/turnover ratio (9th NEC).
* During league play, Ortiz has been outstanding with the ball and is averaging 5.5 assists per game with a 2.1 assist/turnover ratio in six games.
* After halftime this season, the Garden State native is averaging 7.1 points per game (6.5 ppg-NEC) and 43.0 percent from the field, compared to 5.1 points (2.5 ppg-NEC) each time out before halftime on 34.1 percent shooting.
* Folahan, Ortiz, Parker and Rivers comprise the Green & White senior class, which has registered 66 wins since descending on Grymes Hill and has accounted for 48.5 percent (660-of-1360) of the team's offense this year.
* Junior
Jay Harris continues to star in Wagner's guard-dominated offense and ranks among the NEC leaders in scoring (9.4-28th), assists (2.8-11th), three-point percentage (.407-6th) and three-pointers/game (2.1-7th).
* Thanks to Rivers, Ortiz, Harris and Burton, the Seahawk guards have accounted for 69.0 percent of the offense (938/1360) of the team's scoring.
* Wagner is 7-1 when leading with five minutes to play this season and 48-2 over the last three years.
* Since head coach
Bashir Mason took over at the start of last season, his teams have limited the opposition to less than 40 percent shooting in 27 of the Seahawks' 50 games. Additionally, the Green & White is a perfect 11-0 when limiting teams to less than 35 percent during that time.
* Mason, who was a finalist for the
CollegeInsider.com Joe B. Hall First-Year and Ben Jobe Minority Coach of the Year awards last season, is 28-22 in this his second year on Grymes Hill. He reached the 20-win plateau for his career in his 33rd game against Chestnut Hill on Tuesday, November 12, matching Chester Sellitto's 47-year school record.
* For the second season in a row, Mason, who is 29 years and 353 days old, is the youngest Division I head coach as well as the lone head man under the age of 30. In 2012-2013, Mason led the Seahawks to a 19-12 record (12-6 NEC) in 2012-2013. Both his overall and NEC win totals represented school-records for a rookie coach.
* Since the start of the 2011-2012 season, Wagner, which was picked to win the 2014 NEC Championship by the league's coaches, is 53-28, including 30-12 during conference play and 21-14 in non-conference action. Additionally, the Seahawks are 27-15 in games decided by less than 10 points or in OT, 40-2 when limiting opponents to less than 70 points, 35-8 when scoring at least 70, 39-2 when leading at the half, 17-7 following a loss and 31-4 when shooting 45 percent or higher.
* Wagner is also off to a solid start on defense, leading the NEC in rebounding (38.1), blocks (5.6) (31st NCAA), field goal percentage defense (.407) (72nd NCAA) and three point field goal percentage defense (.330) (121st NCAA).
SCOUTING LIU BROOKLYN
The scouting report for the three-time defending NEC Champion starts and finishes with senior Jason Brickman. The NCAA's leader in assists at 9.8 per game is also averaging 11.9 points each time out over a league-best 36.0 minutes per game and has had a hand in 55.6 percent (251/452) of the Blackbirds made baskets.
BESIDES BRICKMAN
LIU Brooklyn also boasts three other players that are averaging double-figures in Landon Atterberry (12.5 ppg), Gerrell Martin (11.4 ppg) and E.J. Reed (11.1 ppg). The last time these teams met, Martin missed the game due to injury while Reed didn't play in the second half due to an ailment of his own.
BATTLE OF THE POINT GUARDS
Brickman and Ortiz have waged some impressive battles over their three years as opponents with the teams splitting six match-ups. Ortiz is averaging 8.7 points, 5.7 assists, 5.3 rebounds and 2.1 steals during that time. Brickman, meanwhile, checks in with 12.7 points and 7.3 assists per game while shooting 54.2 percent (13-of-24) from deep.
DURING NEC PLAY
LIU Brooklyn is last in the NEC in rebounding defense (40.5) while Wagner is first in rebounding offense (41.0 rpg). The Blackbirds are also ninth in the NEC in shooting, converting on just 42.0 percent from the field, while the Seahawks are limiting the opposition to a league-low 41.6 percent.
ON THIS DATE
The Green & White has won three-straight games when playing on January 30 and is is 3-7 since moving to Division I (1976-1977).
#SCTop10
Sophomore
Dwaun Anderson was recently cited as having the top dunk of the first half of the season by the
Sporting News and garnered top billing on
ESPN's #SCTop10 on Saturday, January 11 for his alley-oop dunk off of a Rivers' backboard pass against LIU Brooklyn. The dunk was Anderson's fourth career top-10 play on the worldwide sports leader.
FOR STARTERS
Anderson entered the starting line-up eight games ago and has made his presence felt on defense, normally getting drawing the toughest defensive assignment each time out. The Michigan State transfer is averaging 6.2 points and 3.8 rebounds per game during league play.
CLOSING IT OUT
As a unit, the Green & White has made good on 75.0 percent (48-of-64) in the final five minutes of games decided by 10 points or less, highlighted by perfect efforts from Burton (8-of-8) and Harris (6-of-6).
MAKES SENSE
When outshooting the opposition, Wagner is 9-1 this season and 45-6 over the last three years - including 26-3 since the start of last season.
A TALE OF TWO HALVES
The Seahawks are averaging 32.0 points per game in the first half while shooting 38.3 percent from the floor, including 32.9 percent from deep, and 67.6 percent from the line. After halftime, the Green & White is scoring 38.9 points each time out while shooting 45.6 percent from the field, including 34.4 percent from deep, and 73.5 percent from the line.
TOPPLING THE GIANT
Wagner throttled three-time defending NEC Champion LIU Brooklyn 84-70 thanks to another stellar performance from Moody, who recorded a game-high 19 points and 10 rebounds. It also marked the fourth time in his career that he has notched 19 points with three coming against the Blackbirds, as well as two of his six double-doubles.
IN THE RANKINGS
* Ortiz is currently eighth in school history with 380 assists, 75 behind
Tony Rice for seventh.
* Ortiz is 10th with 150 steals and with two more will match former
Courtney Pritchard.
* Rivers is seventh with 330 free throws and needs 10 more to equal
Jamie Ciampaglio.
* Rivers is also ninth with 180 triples and with five more will match
Jeff Klauder.
* Moody is ninth in school history with 84 blocks and with two more will equal
Dave Smolka.
LUCKY NUMBER SEVEN
Ortiz's nine helpers at the Mount also represented the 17th time in his career that he has notched at least seven in a game. During that time, the Seahawks are an impressive 14-3. The Newark native, is first among active players in the conference with 150 steals and fourth with 380 assists, as Wagner is 53-28 over his three years.
MASON ANNOUNCES CLASS OF 2018
Mason recently announced the signings of
Joseph Cooper (Wilmington, DE / Concord), Aaren Edmead (Deer Park, NY / Deer Park) and
Corey Henson (Upper Marlboro, MD / DeMatha Catholic) to National Letters of Intent. Cooper will be playing his senior season at Concord High School averaging 13.0 points, 4.0 steals, 3.9 assists and 3.7 rebounds per game as a junior at the Tatnall School. As a junior, Edmead averaged 14 points per game while helping lead Deer Park to a 17-4 record, a league championship and the Suffolk Class AA title game. Henson averaged 10.7 points while draining 48 three-pointers for DeMatha Catholic as a junior and is the top returning scorer for the Stags.
WAGNER PICKED TO REIGN SUPREME
For the first time in 21 years Wagner was picked in the annual NEC Coaches Poll to stand atop the summit at the end of the season as The Seahawks received seven of the 10 first place votes. Robert Morris and Bryant tied for second with the Colonials earning two first place nods. Three-time defending champion LIU Brooklyn garnered the final first place vote and was tabbed fourth. Central Connecticut was fifth, followed by last year's runner-up Mount St. Mary's, St. Francis Brooklyn, Sacred Heart, SFU and FDU.
NEC TELEVISION PACKAGE ANNOUNCED
For the third-straight year Wagner will play at least two televised games at home, including one on national television as part of the NEC package. Before the aforementioned two televised home games, the Seahawks played before a
Fox College Sports (FCS) audience at Mount St. Mary's (1/16). The Green & White will next be on television when it hosts Bryant on Sunday, February 16 at 12:00 pm on the
CBS Sports Network before welcoming
FCS back to the Spiro for Senior Day vs. Robert Morris on March 1 at 6:00 pm.
SENIORS PACE RESURGENCE
The senior class of Folahan, Ortiz, Parker and Rivers is arguably the main reason that Wagner in considered among the elite of the NEC. The Seahawks are an impressive 66-45, including 39-21 during league play, since the foursome arrived on Staten Island.
UP NEXT
Wagner will play at St. Francis Brooklyn on Saturday, February 1 at 5:00 pm.
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 Bashir Mason for news on the second-year coach.
