Game Notes: Wagner | VermontWatch: (Free
)Listen: (Free)Live StatsStaten Island Advance Game Preview Burlington, VT – The Wagner College men's basketball team concludes a lengthy three-game road swing as the Seahawks meet he University of Vermont Catamounts today at 1:00 pm in the first game of a doubleheader with the Wagner and Vermont women's teams to meet in the second game at 3:30 pm.
This contest betweenn the Wagner and Vermont men's teams mark the sixth all-time meeting between the two schools, with the Catamounts holding a slim 3-2 edge in the head-to-head matchup.
THE COACHESWagner:
Bashir Mason: 40-29, Third Season
Overall Record (Same)
All-time against Vermont: 1-0
Vermont: John Becker: 71-39, Fourth Season at Vermont
Overall Record: 77-83; Sixth Season as head coach
All-time against Wagner: 0-1
LAST TIME OUT...- Four members of Wagner's highly-touted freshmen class hit for double figures in a 97-84 loss at Lafayette
- Freshmen guard Corey Henson (Upper Marlboro, MD/DeMatha Catholic) netted 16 points in 35 minutes of play to lead the way for the Green & White, as the 6-3 combo guard also dished out four assists and recorded four steals in the contest. Classmate Romone Saunders (Temple Hills, MD/Mt. Zion Prep), another promising 6-3 first-year guard, scored a career-high 14 points in his first collegiate start while also recording four steals.
- Rugged 6-1 guard JoJo Cooper (Wilmington, DE/Concord), the reigning NEC Rookie of the Week, posted 13 points and dished out a team-best five assists in 28 minutes.
- The fourth Wagner frosh to hit for double figures was 5-10 sharp-shooter Aaren Edmead (Deer Park, NY/Deer Park, who contributed 12 points off the bench, all from beyond-the-arc.
SCOUTING THE CATAMOUNTS…- Vermont is 4-4 on the season while sporting a 3-1 mark at Patrick Gymnasium.
- A season ago, the Catamounts posted an impressive 22-11 overall record while securing the America East regular season crown with an impressive 15-1 conference mark.
- As the number one seed in the AE Tournament, they defeated New Hampshire, 77-60, but was upsetted in the semifinals by UAlbany, 67-58.
- The Catamounts were invited to the 2014 National Invitational Tournament (NIT), where they were the #7 seed in the Florida State bracket, in which they were pitted against SEC member Georgia, 63-56.
- Three players are averaging in double-figures, led by Hector Harold's 11.4 points per contest. Teammates Ethan O-Day and Trae Bell-Haynes are pouring in 10.6 and 10.0 points, respectively. Dre Wills is the team's leading rebounder at 5.6 caroms a contest while also dishing out 3.0 assists per game.
ALL-TIME AGAINST VERMONT...- This afternoon's contest marks just the sixth all-time meeting between these two schools, with the Catamounts holding a slim 3-2 edge in the head-to-head matchup.
- This series dates back to December 29, 1961 where Vermont defeated Wagner, 90-76.
ALL-TIME AGAINST THE AMERICA EAST...- Wagner holds a 15-14 mark against America East members
- The Seahawks were defeated by Maine, 82-81, in overtime on a buzzer-beater.
- In their last five meetings against AE members, Wagner is 3-2.
LAST MEETING BETWEEN THE TWO...- Wagner outscored Vermont 13-5 over the final five-plus minutes en route to posting a 68-61 come-from-behind victory in front of 1,810 fans at the Spiro Sports Center.
- Trailing by 13 at the half, Vermont rallied to take its first lead of the game at 56-55 with 5:21 to play on a Candon Rusin three-point play. Down but not out, senior Orlando Parker (Orlando, FL / Orlando Christian Prep) converted a fast break layup off a steal to reclaim the lead for the Green & White at 57-56 with 3:34 remaining.
- Brian Voelkel quickly tied the game up at 57-57 with a free throw on the other end. Parker hit the first of two free throws, before senior Kenneth Ortiz (Sr., Newark, NJ / Science Park) grabbed the carom on the second attempt and threw the ball off a Catamount player while falling out of bounds to retain possession. Junior Jay Harris (Aurora, IL / Valparaiso) capitalized with a pair at the line to extend the lead out to 60-57 with 2:54 remaining.
- Ortiz led the way on offense with 15 points and three assists while also recording five rebounds and two steals to pace a defensive unit that held the Catamounts without a three pointer. Despite going just 1-for-6 from the floor, Rivers made good on all eight of his free throws to finish with 11 points while Moody and Harris each added 10 points. Parker fell just short of double-figures with nine second-half points and a team-best seven rebounds over 20 minutes.
Follow Wagner Athletics on Twitter (@wagnerathletics) for all the latest news and updates on the athletic department and on the men's basketball program and head coach Bashir Mason (@BashirMason) for news on the third-year head coach.
