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Photo by Derek Alvez (Staten Island Advance)

SUNY Old Westbury vs. Wagner Seahawks - Highlights (November 20, 2014)

Post-Game Interview: Joey Wahler Talks With Senior Guard Marcus Burton

Staten Island, NY – Playing in front of their home fans for the first time this season, the Wagner College Seahawks secured a wire-to-wire victory, defeating SUNY Old Westbury, 83-49, on Thursday evening at the Spiro Sports Center.

Wagner (1-2) had three players in double-figures on the evening, led by senior guard Marcus Burton (Charlotte, NC/David W. Butler) who led all scorers with a game-high 22 points, 13 of which came in the opening half.  The 6-0 Burton finished 8-of-16 shooting from the floor, to go along with a blistering 40.0 percent from long-range (4-of-10) in 28 minutes of action.  Freshmen guards Aaren Edmead (Deer Park, NY/Deer Park) and Romone Saunders (Temple Hills, MD/Mt. Zion Prep) each had stellar performances off the bench, finishing with 13 and 11 points, respectively. Fellow freshman JoJo Cooper (Wilmington, DE/Concord) dished out a Northeast Conference season-high 11 assists and recording four steals in his 25 minutes of play. Jaquan Potter led the way for the Panthers, as he finished as the lone player in double-figures for Old Westbury (0-3). The senior guard finished with 12 points on 4-of-5 shooting from the field, which included nine points from long range in 28 minutes of play.
 
Wagner gave the home fans an early thrill, opening the contest on 21-7 run over a nine and a half minute stretch, holding the Panthers to just three made field goals while connecting on 8-of-12 from the field and an impressive 4-of-5 from three-point land. The Seahawks took a commanding 37-17 lead into intermission, holding Old Westbury to 7-of-17 shooting and outmuscling the Panthers on the boards, 20-8. The Green & White defense continued to thrive, as they forced a16 first-half turnovers while converting 15 points off those miscues.

The Panthers were able to gather some momentum down the stretch, as they outscored the Seahawks, 17-12, over a 8:37 stretch that drew the visitors within 20, at 60-40, with 6:52 left but Wagner's early lead and shutdown defense proved too much for the Panthers to overcome. Wagner finished the game shooting 45.9 percent from the floor (28-of-61) while outrebounding the Panthers, 42-23 and scoring 30 points off 28 Old Westbury turnovers. 

The Seahawks head back on the road as they tangle with Colonial Athletic Association member, Hofstra, on Sunday, November 23.  Tip-off from the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Contest is slated for 4:30 p.m.

NOTE: Cooper's 11 assists are the most by a Seahawk since Kenneth Ortiz dished out 11 at LIU Brooklyn on January 10, 2013. 

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 head coach Bashir Mason (@BashirMason) for news on the third-year head coach.