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Hackensack, NJ - Wagner erased a seven-point deficit with just over four minutes remaining in posting a thrilling 67-64 win over Fairleigh Dickinson in Northeast Conference (NEC) action at Stratis Arena.

The Seahawk senior class of Naofall Folahan (Cotonou, Republic of Benin / Wilbraham & Monson Academy (MA)), Kenneth Ortiz (Newark, NJ / Southern Mississippi), Orlando Parker (Orlando, FL / Orlando Christian Prep) and Latif Rivers (Elizabeth, NJ / Avon Old Farms (CT)) broke a 45-year school record in the process with its 73rd career victory, bettering the previous mark set by the Class of 1969.

WIth its sixth-straight win, the Green & White improves to 16-11 and 10-4 in the league while clinching a home game for the quarterfinal round of the NEC Tournament on Wednesday, March 5 and no worse then the No. 3 seed. A victory over Saint Francis U or losses by both Bryant and the Mount on Thursday would clinch the No. 2 seed

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In an old-fashioned barn burner that featured nine lead changes and four ties, the Knights matched their largest lead of the game at seven after Jayde Dawson's fast break layup put the FDU up 59-52 with just 4:14 to play. On the ensuing possession, Fairleigh Dickinson forced a turnover and had a chance to put the game away but Mathias Seilund's errant shot was corralled by Ortiz who quickly found Rivers in the corner for a three pointer.

After head coach Bashir Mason called timeout to set up his press defense, the Knights threw the ball away and junior Marcus Burton (Charlotte, NC / David W. Butler) capitalized with a long triple in trimming the deficit to just one at 59-58 with 2:37 to play. Malachi Nix briefly answered with a free throw before Burton drained another three pointer in giving Wagner a 61-60 lead. The advantage would be short-lived as Scotter Gillette converted a three-point play to reclaim the lead for FDU at 63-61 with 1:38 to play. Following a timeout, Ortiz answered with a pair of free throws to tie the game up at 63-63 while notching his 1,000th career point in the process and setting the stage for a wild final minute of action.

Sidney Sanders Jr. missed on the ensuing possession but Seilund was fouled on the rebound and promptly split a pair from the line. Rivers then drew a foul of his own and converted both freebies in reclaiming the lead for the Seahawks at 65-64 with 24 seconds remaining. Fairleigh Dickinson had a chance to answer at the line, but Gillette missed both free throw attempts and sophomore Dwaun Anderson (Suttons Bay, MI / Michigan State) hit two free throws to cap a game-ending 15-5 run.

In the pivotal stretch, the Green & White scored on all six of its final possessions and were a perfect 6-for-6 from the line in the final minute-plus of action.

Wagner also collected just its third win over the last three seasons when trailing with less than five minutes to play while improving to an outstanding 32-16 in games decided by 10 points or less or in overtime during that time.

Rivers paced the Seahawks in scoring for the 35th time in his career with 18 points while adding four rebounds, two assists and two blocks. Burton notched 13 of his 15 points after halftime and was 5-for-7 from the field, including 3-for-5 from deep, while Ortiz rounded out the double-digit performers for the Green & White with 13 points, a team-best matching seven rebounds, five assists and three steals.

Gillette led all players with 19 points and nine rebounds to pace Fairleigh Dickinson while Sanders Jr., the NEC's leading scorer, added 15 points, nine assists, four rebounds and three steals.

The Knights grabbed a slim 29-28 advantage at intermission before pushing the lead out to a game-high seven on two occasions in the second half.

Wagner was able to overcome 19 turnovers by converting on 45.5 percent (20-of-44) from the field and 80.0 percent (20-of-25) from the line, including 84.2 percent (16-of-19) after halftime. The Seahawks also notched 11 blocks in breaking the previous single-season school record of 163 set a year ago and now have 167.

FDU, meanwhile, won the rebounding battle (33-32) but converted on 39.6 percent (21-of-53) from the floor, including just 26.7 percent (4-of-15) from long range, and 66.7 percent (18-of-27) from the line.

Wagner will look to clinch the No. 2 seed in the upcoming NEC Tournament against Saint Francis U on Thursday, February 27 at 7:00 pm.

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