Game 34 
No. 8 Wagner College Seahawks
(23-10; 13-5 NEC)
vs.
No. 4 Creighton University Bluejays
(19-14; 9-9 Big East) |
| Game Details | Saturday, March 19, 2016 | Omaha, NE
11:00 a.m. (CDT) | 12:00 p.m. (EDT)|
CenturyLink Center Omaha (17.352) |
| Game Coverage | TV: ESPN
Play-by-Play: Doug Sherman
Color: Daymeon Fishback
Radio: None
Internet Stream: ESPN3 (Watch Here)
Twitter: @WagnerAthletics
Twitter: @Wagner_MBB
Twitter Hashtag: #CHAOSonthehill |
| Wagner Links | Media Guide | Game Notes | Roster | Schedule |
Staten Island Advance Preview (Cormac Gordon) |
| Creighton Links | Game Notes | Roster | Schedule
|
Postseason NIT Website | NIT Bracket (PDF) | NIT Official Release | Official NIT Program
Omaha, NE - Fresh off their first-ever postseason win in school's history, the eighth-seeded Wagner Seahawks (23-10) makes its second-ever trip to the Cornhusker State as the Green & White square off against the fourth-seeded Creighton Bluejays in the Second Round of the 2016 National Invitational Tournament (NIT) at CentruyLink Center Omaha (17,352).The Northeast Conference (NEC) regular season champion Seahawks upset the No. 1 seed, St. Bonaventure, 79-75, on Wednesday evening in Olean, NY at the Reilly Center. The Bluejays advanced to Saturday's Second Round contest with a 72-54 victory over fifth-seeded Alabama of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Saturday contest is the first-ever meeting between Wagner and Creighton as tipoff is set for 11:01 a.m. CDT (12:01 p.m. EDT). This contest is televised to a national audience on ESPN as Doug Sherman along with Daymeon Fishback have the call.
A WIN OVER CREIGHTON MEANS:- Wagner will record its second postseason win, both in the NIT
- The Seahawks would improve to 2-2 on the road in the NIT.
- The Green & White would pick up its first victory over a Big East school since the Seahawks knocked off then-ranked No. 15 Pittsburgh back on December 23, 2011.
- Wagner would pick up its first victory in the state of Nebraska (0-1 entering this morning's contest).
- Improve to 24-10 overall, the second-most wins in program history.
| Creighton Bluejays | Category | Wagner College Seahawks |
| Won, 1 | Current Streak | Won, 1 |
| 2-3 | Last Five Games | 4-1 |
| 5-5 | Last Ten Games | 8-2 |
| 79.3 | Scoring Average | 70.8 |
| 72.5 | Scoring Defense | 64.3 |
| +6.9 | Scoring Margin | +6.5 |
| .469 | FG Percentage Offense | .428 |
| .434 | FG Percentage Defense | .408 |
| .352 | 3FG Percentage Offense | .331 |
| .347 | 3FG Percentage Defense | .323 |
| 8.1 | 3FG Made Per Game | 6.0 |
| .703 | FT Percentage | .713 |
| 15.4 | FT Attempts Per Game | 13.9 |
| 13.7 | FT Attempts Per Game (Opp) | 15.6 |
| 36.8 | Rebounding Avg | 40.1 |
| 35.2 | Rebounding Against Avg | 32.6 |
| +1.6 | Rebounding Margin | +7.5 |
| 13.6 | Assists Per Game | 13.4 |
| 11.6 | Turnovers Per Game | 13.4 |
| 12.6 | Turnover Forced Per Game | 14.3 |
| +1.1 | Turnover Margin | +0.8 |
| 6.1 | Steals Per Game | 6.9 |
| 3.2 | Blocks Per Game | 4.1 |
CAREY, HENSON NAMED TO ALL-NEC TOURNAMENT TEAM:
- At the conclusion of the NEC finals on March 8, it was announced that Carey and Henson were named to the 2016 All-NEC Tournament team.
- Carey and Henson were among four Seahawks to average double-figures over the three-game tournament, with Carey averaging 18.3 ppg and 11.7 rpg. Additionally, Carey shot 55.3 percent from the field and dished out a team-best nine assists.
- Henson tallied 15.3 ppg over the NEC tournament while logging 32.3 minutes of action and shooting 45.9 percent from the field and dishing out seven helpers.
SWEEPSSTAKES:
- Wagner took the season series from five of the ten teams in the conference this season, which includes winning three straight over the 2015 NEC champions, Robert Morris
- Marks the first season in which the Seahawks had swept more than three teams since the 2013-14 when the Green & White took two victories over four teams.
BACK-TO-BACK LOSSES ARE RARE FOR WAGNER:
- The Wagner Seahawks haven't lost back-to-back games since November 13-15 when the Green & White dropped a 66-57 and 69-59 to Big East members, St. John's and Seton Hall to open the 2015-16.
#8 over #1 in NIT (2007-16)
- Since 2007, there has six occassions in which the No. 8 seed in the NIT has knocked off the top seed.
- With Wagner's 79-75 victory over No. 1 seed, St. Bonaventure, the Seahawks became the third Northeast Conference (NEC) school to pick up a victory over the top-seed, and first since 2014 when Robert Morris defeated St. John's.
2016 WAGNER > ST. BONAVENTURE
2015 South Dakota State > Colorado State
2014 Robert Morris > St. John's
2013 Robert Morris > Kentucky
2012 Bucknell > Arizona
2010 Jacksonville > Arizona State
COMMON FOES:
- Creighton and Wagner share two common opponents this season, St. John's and Seton Hall.
- Creighton went 2-0 against St. John's and 1-2 against Seton Hall.
- Wagner opened its season with a nine-point loss at St. John's and followed that with a 10-point loss at Seton Hall.
RECORD VS. POSTSEASON QUALIFIERS:
- Wagner went 3-4 against teams that qualified for the postseason. That includes a 1-3 mark over NCAA qualifiers (defeating Seton Hall), a 1-1 mark vs. NIT teams (defeating St. Bonaventure, falling to Monmouth) and a 1-0 record over CIT qualifier Fairfield.
- Creighton went 5-9 against teams that qualified for the postseason, including a 3-9 mark against NCAA qualifiers (wins over Xavier, Butler and Seton Hall), and a 2-0 mark against NIT qualifiers (Texas Southern, Alabama).
ANDERSON'S GAME-WINNING SLAM DUNK EARNS NO. 5 ON #SCTOP10:
- Following a missed three-point from sophomore guard Corey Henson (Upper Marlboro, MD/DeMatha Catholic) in the closing moments of Tuesday's contest at Rider, redshirt senior guard Dwaun Anderson (Suttons Bay, MI/Suttons Bay [Michigan State]), in traffic, was left unguarded as he soared over a host of players from both teams to slam home the putback jam.
- In giving Wagner its fifth straight win, Anderson's game-winner garnered the No. 5 spot on Tuesday evening's ESPN Sportscenter's Top-10, marking the fifth time in Anderson's career that one of his dunks has been showcased on the "Worldwide Leader in Sports.
CLOSE CALL:
- Seahawks claimed two 1-point wins in the same season for the first time this year since the 2009-10 campaign when they also had two 1-point wins (vs. Saint Peter's, 59-58) and (vs. Sacred Heart, 74-73).
- Wagner prevailed 62-61 over Morgan State thanks to a game-winning free-throw off the hands of sophomore guard Romone Saunders (Temple Hills, MD/Potomac [Mt. Zion Prep]).
- The Seahawks needed an emphatic slam to get past Rider back on December 8 as redshirt senior guard Dwaun Anderson (Suttons Bay, MI/Suttons Bay [Michigan State]) wasn't boxed out and was able to give the Seahawks a 65-64 thrilling win in Lawrenceville, NJ.
20 REGULAR SEASON WINS FOR JUST SEVENTH TIME:
- The 2015-16 Seahawks is the seventh Wagner team to reach 20 wins in regular season play and first since 2011-12 when the Seahawks went 25-6 under Dan Hurley.
| Wagner Men's Basketball All-Time 20-Win Seasons |
| Year | Record | Head Coach |
| 2011-12 | 25-6 | Dan Hurley |
| 2007-08 | 23-8 | Mike Deane |
| 2015-16 | 23-10 | Bashir Mason
(Note: Coach Mason has also led Wagner to two 19-win seasons) |
| 2002-03 | 22-11 | Dereck Whittenburg |
| 1978-79 | 21-7 | P.J. Carlesimo |
| 1967-68 | 21-8 | Chester Sellitto |
1955-56
| 20-3
| Herb Sutter
|
SCOUTING THE CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY BLUEJAYS:- Creighton enters Saturday's contest with a 19-14 overall record.
- Maurice Watson Jr., the team's leading scorer at 14.4 points per game while dishing out 6.4 assists per contest, is one of four Bluejays to average double-figures. Watson Jr. earned All-Big East Second Team honors.
- Cole Huff poured in 35 points vs. Seton Hall back on March 10 in the First Round of the Big East Tournament and has scored in double-figures in eight of the last ten games for the Bluejays.
- Creighton's head coach, Doug McDermott, holds a 1-0 record against Wagner, as his Northern Iowa team defeated the Green & White, 86-56 back on December 21, 2004.
MASON NO STRANGER TO CREIGHTON:
- 2016 Jim Phelan NEC Coach of the Year, Bashir Mason, is no stranger to Omaha and the CenturyLink Center Omaha.
- During his final season at Drexel, the Dragons played the Bluejays on Feb. 17, 2007 as part of ESPN's BracketBusters series.
- Drexel shocked the host with a 64-58 victory as Mason had six points, five assists and three rebounds in 39 minutes of action.
DOUBLE DIGIT DOMINANCE:
- Of the Green & White's 22 wins this season, 14 of those victories came via double-digit triumphs.
- The Seahawks rattled off seven wins when outscoring their opponents by at least 20-points, which included a three-game stretch with wins over Bryant (+24), Fairleigh Dickinson (+20), and Central Connecticut (+26).
REBOUNDING KEY TO SEAHAWK SUCCESS:
- Wagner, who ranked 11th in the NCAA in Offensive Rebounds Per Game (14.0), 19th in Rebound Margin (+7.6) and 23rd In Total Rebounds Per Game (40.13), outmuscled its opponents in 24 of 32 games this season.
- The Seahawks controlled the boards by a double-digit margin in 18 of those contest while compiling a 16-2 record.
ROAD WARRIORS:
- The Wagner Seahawks have won eight of their last nine road games.
- In 16 road games this season, Wagner is 10-6 overall and was 7-2 in NEC play away from the Spiro Sports Center.
- Sophomore guard Corey Henson is one of five Seahawks to tally double-figures away from the Spiro Sports Center, as the second-year guard is averaging 11.8 points per contest. Additionally, Henson is shooting 41.0 percent from the field and 45.2 percent from beyond-the-arc in those contests.
- Michael Carey is pouring in 10.8 ppg and grabbing a team-best 7.6 rebounds on the road. The Nassau, Bahamas native is shooting 50.0 percent from the floor (60-of-120) while converting 92.0 percent from the free-throw line in just 27.0 minutes a contest.
- Dwaun Anderson has contributed 10.8 ppg and 4.5 rebounds while recording 23 steals and swatting away eight shots on the road.
- Romone Saunders has scored 10.6 ppg while converting on 48.9 percent from the field, 49.1 percent from long range and shooting 81.8 percent from the charity stripe.
- Mike Aaman has tallied 10.0 ppg while grabbing 5.9 caroms away from Staten Island in nine game started and logging 20.8 minutes. The Hazlet, NJ native has shot at a 55.1 clip in road games.
CAREY PILES UP DOUBLE-DOUBLES:
- Michael Carey has a team-leading 15 double-doubles on the season, the last coming on in the NEC finals against Fairleigh Dickinson in which he scored 18 points and pulled down 11 rebounds.
- Carey ranked third in the Northeast Conference (NEC) in double-doubles.
- 12 of Carey's double-doubles were against NEC teams.
DOUBLE-DOUBLES IN A SEASON DURING BASHIR MASON ERA:
CLAMPING DOWN ON THE DEFENSE:- Wagner held its opponents to under 60 points in 12 games this season en route to a 12-0 record in those contests.
- In two games this season, the Seahawks were able to hold its opponents under 50 points in American (55-48, 12/6/15) and Central Connecticut (70-48, 1/16/16).
THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE HOME:- Wagner finished 13-4 at the Spiro Sports Center this season and ran its record to 54-18 at home over the last five years.
- Sophomore guard Corey Henson is poured in 15.2 ppg in 17 games at the Spiro Sports Center this season while shooting 44.9 percent from the floor and 37.1 percent from three-point range in 31.6 minutes a contest. Henson has also connected at an 83.0 percent clip from the free-throw line.
- Junior guard Michael Carey has averaged a double-double at home this season, recording 14.2 ppg and 10.9 rpg in 17 games, 13 of which he has started. The Nassau, Bahamas native is shot 51.5 percent from the field.
- Under fourth-year head coach, Bashir Mason, the Seahawks are 42-15 at the Spiro Sports Center.
- All-time, Wagner is 153-80 since the Spiro Sports Center opened on February 20, 1999, in which the Seahawks played Fairleigh Dickinson to a 78-56 victory.
TOP-TEN MOST IMPROVED TEAM:- After a 10-20 season in 2014-15, the Wagner men's basketball had a drastic turnaround, posting a 20-win season for only the sixth time in program history.
- Additionally, this season's squad were ranked seventh in the NCAA's Most Improved Teams department.
NATIONAL STATISTICS:- Through games 3/17/16, Wagner ranks among the top-50 in the NCAA in six statistical categories.
- The Seahawks are 10th in the NCAA in Offensive Rebounds Per Game, pulling down 14.06 caroms a contest, which leads the conference and trails former-NEC and current Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) member, Quinnipiac, by 2.54 offensive rebounds as the Bobcats are pulling down 16.60.
- Wagner ranks in the 20's in Rebound Margin (7.5), Scoring Defense (64.3), and Total Rebounds Per Game (40.06).
- Individually, Michael Carey ranks 27th in the NCAA in double-doubles with 15
AAMAN'S BLOCK PARTY: - Redshirt senior forward Mike Aaman (Hazlet, NJ/Raritan [University of Rhode Island]) swatted a career-high five blocks in Wagner's NEC quarterfinal victory over Robert Morris (3/2/16).
THREE-BALL GALORE:- The men's basketball team have connected on at least one made three-pointer in 337 straight contests.
- The last time the Seahawks didn't convert a three-pointer was back on February 28, 2004, at home against NEC-foe, Mount St. Mary's in which the Green & White were held to 0-of-13 shooting from beyond the arc.
TOP-20 SMALLEST ARENA IN DIVISION I - By arena capacity, Wagner is tied for the 17th smallest arena among Division I schools, holding 2,100 fans, which ties America East member UMass Lowell (Costello Athletic Center) and the Ivy League's Dartmouth (Leede Arena).
- Conversely, Creighton's CenturyLink Center Omaha holds roughly 18,320 people, good for 15th.
WAGNER EARNED TWO VOTES IN COLLEGEINSIDER.COM MID-MAJOR POLL:- In the February 29 edition of the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Men's Basketball Poll, Wagner, who stood at 20-9 and 13-5 in the Northeast Conference, earned a two votes in the Mid-Major Poll.
IF IT'S FREE, IT HAS TO BE GOOD:- Against Fairleigh Dickinson on February 18, the Wagner men's basketball team converted on 34-of-37 from the free-throw line, a season best.
- Six players of the 11 players that saw action in the game were perfect from the charity stripe as sophomore guard Corey Henson went 8-for-8 at the line. Junior guard Michael Carey went 7-7 while redshirt senior guard Dwaun Anderson went 6-for-6 from the charity stripe.
- The Seahawks finished the regular season as the second-best free-throw shooting team at 71.5 percent.
CONTROLLING THE GLASS:- Wagner has done a tremendous job on the boards this season, leading the Northeast Conference in Rebounding Offense, Rebounding Defense, and Rebounding Margin.
- The Seahawks have outrebounded its opponents in 26 of 33 games this season.
- The Green & White had an impressive nine-game stretch (December 30-to-January 24) in which they were outrebounding their opposition before falling one carom short of its nine consecutive games against Sacred Heart back on January 24
- The Green & White, so far, has outmuscled the opposition by at least 20 caroms in three games this season, most recently at Fairleigh Dickinson on February 18 (43-20). The two previous times were at Robert Morris on January 4 (44-24) and at home against College of Staten Island (50-29), back on November 28.
PAINTING A PICTURE:- The Seahawks have tallied 1080 of its 2,335 from inside the paint (46.3%)
- The Green & White have allowed its opponents to score 839 points inside the painted area.
- Wagner has allowed 20-points or fewer from inside the paint in seven games this season, twice against Central Connecticut when holding the Blue Devils to 20 points on February 20 and 16 back on January 16.
- Other games include at St. John's [14], vs. Morgan State [18], vs. American [16]), vs. Mount St. Mary's [14]) and at Bryant [16].
- The most points the Seahawks have allowed inside the paint this season is 40 at Saint Francis U back on January 2.
OVER THE LAST TEN GAMES:- Wagner is 8-2 in its last ten games, 4-1 at home and 4-1 away from the Spiro Sports Center.
- The Seahawks are outscoring its opponents by 10.1 points (75.4-65.3).
- Wagner holds a +8.7 on the glass (40.9-32.2).
- The Seahawks are shooting 44.6 percent from the field and 31.6 from beyond-the-arc over its last ten games.
- Michael Carey is averaging a double-double over his last ten, scoring 14.5 ppg and grabbing 10.2 rpg in 30.5 minutes. Carey has converted on 56.0 percent from the field and 82.4 percent from free-throw line (28-of-34).
- Corey Henson has chipped in 12.0 points per game while dishing out 2.4 apg and shooting 43.9 from the floor, and a blistering 90.9 from the free-throw line.
- Romone Saunders has contributed 11.6 ppg in 25.5 minutes over the last ten games, six of which he has started. The second-year Seahawk has shot 42.5 percent from the floor, 43.1 percent from deep and knocked in 80.0 percent of free-throw attempts (20-of-25). Saunders led the way for Wagner with 21 points in its First Round upset of St. Bonaventure.
- Mike Aaman has given the Seahawks an inside presences, netting 10.9 ppg and grabbing 5.4 rebounds while shooting 58.6 percent from the floor during this stretch.
BENCH PRODUCTION:- A vital key to Wagner's success is the play of its reserves.
- In 33 games, the Seahawks bench has amassed 816 points (24.7 ppg) while holding its opponent's reserves to just 511 points (15.5 ppg).
- Michael Carey is nearly averaging a double-double in a reserve role, as in nine games the Nassau, Bahamas product is scoring at a 12.7 clip while pulling down 9.9 rebounds a contest in just 25.7 minutes in a reserve role.
- Romone Saunders has tallied 12.2 ppg in 12 games off the bench while shooting 46.1 percent and 42.9 percent from long range and logging close to 23.0 minutes a contest.
ITS THE FINAL (FIVE MINUTE) COUNTDOWN:- Michael Carey has converted 28-of-34 from the charity stripe in the final minutes (82.4%)
- Junior forward Greg Senat (Elmont, NY/Elmont [Marianpolis Prep]) is shooting 75.0 percent from the field in the final five minutes.
- Four Seahawks have hit 50.0 or better in the last five minutes, led by Dwaun Anderson, who has converted 57.1 percent from the field with five minutes remaining on the clock.
- As a whole, the Seahawks are shooting 45.4 percent from the field, 27.8 percent from three-point range and 74.5 percent from the charity stripe in the final five minutes of contests this season.
Follow Wagner Athletics on Facebook (facebook.com/WagnerAthletics), Twitter (@wagnerathletics), Instagram (@wagnerathletics) and YouTube (@WagnerSeahawks) for all the latest news and updates on the athletic department. Follow Wagner MBasketball on Twitter (@Wagner_MBB) for the latest news and updates on the 2015-16 Wagner Men's Basketball team and head coach Bashir Mason (@BashirMason) for news on the fourth-year head coach.
