Pictured Above: Redshirt freshman forward Jamar Brown (Credit: Dave Saffran)
Lawrenceville, NJ – The Wagner men's basketball team, winners of six straight contests, begin a three-game road stretch on Saturday when the Seahawks meet the Rider University Broncs in a 4:00 p.m. tip at Alumni Gymnasium.
Seahawk Three-Pointers:
- This will be Wagner's fourth road game of the season, as the Seahawks are currently 2-1 away from the Spiro Sports Center this season.
- For the month of December, the Green & White is 3-0 while averaging 81.0 points per game and limiting their opponents to just 63.0 points on 34.9 percent shooting from the field and 28.1 percent from beyond-the-arc.
- Wagner will look for the season sweep over its Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) opponents this season, after already securing a 78-76 home victory over the Fairfield University Stags back on December 1.
Last Time Out: vs. Mercy (December 10, 2017):
- Sophomore guard Blake Francis tossed in a game-high 19 points to lead four players in double figures as the Wagner men's basketball team cruised to its sixth consecutive victory, a 75-41 decision over Mercy College on Sunday afternoon.
- With the win, Wagner now moves to 7-1 on the season, equaling the program's best start in the Division I era, matching the 7-1 start that a P.J. Carlesimo-coached Seahawk squad got out to in 1979-80.
- Francis, who has been an offensive model of consistency all season, has now scored 17 or more points in each of the Seahawks' eight contests. The sweet-stroking lefty scored nine of his 19 points in the opening half while senior guard JoJo Cooper added seven, as Wagner built a 30-18 halftime lead.
- The Green & White then put the game out of reach by outscoring the Division II Mavericks 20-6 in building a commanding 55-24 lead midway through the second half.
- Cooper wound up with 18 points on the afternoon, while junior swingman Elijah Davis and redshirt freshman forward Jamar Brown added 10 points. Freshman guard Chase Freeman tossed in eight points while junior guard Devin Liggeons finished with four points while pulling down a season-high 10 rebounds.
- Redshirt junior forward AJ Sumbry chipped in with three points, to go with nine rebounds and three blocked shots, giving him six straight games of two or blocks.
All-Time Series Against Rider:
- This afternoon's contest is the 24th all-time meeting between the two teams, with Rider leading the head-to-head series 18-5.
- This is the fifth straight season that Wagner & Rider have meet, with the Broncs holding a 4-1 edge in the last five meetings.
All-Time Vs. The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
- Against the current members of the 11-team Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC), the Green & White have a record of 96-215.
- The lone MAAC school the Seahawks haven't face in their history is Canisius.
- Wagner will look for the season sweep against the MAAC as the Seahawks edged Fairfield at home back on December 1, 78-76.
Wagner All-Time Record Vs. The MAAC
| SCHOOL |
RECORD |
LAST MEETING |
W/L |
| Canisius |
--- |
--- |
--- |
| Fairfield |
2-5 |
12/1/17 |
Won, 78-76 |
| Iona |
5-30 |
12/3/02 |
Lost, 87-81 |
| Manhattan |
10-39 |
11/14/07 |
Lost, 69-56 |
| Marist |
11-28 |
2/25/97 |
Lost, 62-60 |
| Monmouth |
25-35 |
12/6/16 |
Lost, 81-71 |
| Niagara |
1-1 |
2/16/62 |
Lost, 71-63 |
| Quinnipiac |
16-13 |
2/2/13 |
Lost, 74-69 |
| RIDER |
5-18 |
11/26/17 |
Lost, 70-67 |
| Saint Peter's |
16-35 |
12/11/10 |
Lost, 51-50 |
| Siena |
5-11 |
12/30/96 |
Lost, 80-62 |
| TOTALS |
96-215 |
|
|
Scouting The Rider University Broncs:
- Rider closes out its short, two-game homestand against the Seahawks as they look to snap a season-high four game losing streak, after falling to Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) member, Hofstra, 88-82, back on December 9 at Alumni Gymnasium.
- The Broncs had four players score in double-figures, led by Stevie Jordan, who poured in a team-best 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the field in 36 minutes of action. Jordan Allen chipped in 17 points, with 15 points coming on the heels of five three-pointers while also pulling down a team-high eight caroms. Dimencio Vaughn and Tyere Marshall contributed 11 and 10 points, respectively.
- Rider currently ranks second in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) in scoring offense, tallying 82.3 points per game while ranking first on the offensive glass, grabbing 39.4 caroms a contest.
- The Broncs have five players averaging double-figures, led by Allen, who is tallying 17.5 ppg. Stevie Jordan is next at 15.0 ppg while dishing out a team-best 7.1 assists a game. Vaughn, Frederick Scott and Marshall have added 12.4, 12.2 and 11.0 ppg with Scott the leading rebounder at 7.0 caroms a game.
Coach Mason Approaching The Century Mark For Career Wins:
- In Wagner's 75-41 home victory over Division II members, Mercy College, sixth-year head coach Bashir Mason recorded his 94th career victory.
- Coach Mason, who is currently the sixth youngest head coach in Division I, is 94-70 during his tenure on Grymes Hill.
- He is just the fifth Wagner head coach to post 90 or more career victories and the third in the Division I Era of the program.
| Wagner Coach |
Career Record |
Years Coached |
| Herb Sutter |
352-252 |
1937-1965 |
| Tim Capstraw |
117-164 |
1989-1999 |
| Chester Sellitto |
97-89 |
1965-1972 |
| Mike Deane |
95-113 |
2003-2010 |
| BASHIR MASON |
94-70 |
2012-present |
| Neil Kennett |
81-115 |
1982-1989 |
| Dereck Whittenburg |
67-50 |
1999-2003 |
| P.J. Carlesimo |
65-93 |
1976-1982 |
| Dan Hurley |
38-23 |
2010-2012 |
| Bill Keegan |
29-25 |
1934-1937 |
| John C. Goodwin |
26-73 |
1972-1976 |
| Elmer Ripley |
23-22 |
1922-1925 |
| Ray Kirschmeyer |
16-36 |
1929-1934 |
| Joseph Flotten |
10-4 |
1925-1926 |
| John Futchs |
8-10 |
1926-1927 |
| John Morris |
7-19 |
1927-1929 |
| Erastus LaRue Ely |
1-4 |
1920-1921 |
| Walter B. Peterson |
1-6 |
1921-1922 |
Fast Start To The Year:
- The 2017-18 Seahawks are looking for their third-ever 8-1 start to a season in the program's Division I, which began in the season of 1976-77.
- If Wagner defeats Rider, they will join the 1979-80 team, the 1968-69 and 1953-54 squad to all have at least eight wins in their first nine games.
Record To Start Off A Wagner Season (Min: Nine Games)
(Bold & Italics Represent Division I Era)
| Year |
Coach |
Start To Season |
Final Overall Record |
| 1953-54 |
Herb Sutter |
9-0 |
18-6 |
| 1979-80 |
P.J.Carlesimo |
8-1 |
14-13 |
| 1968-69 |
Chester Sellitto |
8-1 |
18-10 |
| 2017-18 |
BASHIR MASON |
7-1 |
??? |
| 2011-12 |
Dan Hurley |
7-2 |
25-6 |
| 2005-06 |
Mike Deane |
7-2 |
13-14 |
| 1966-67 |
Chester Sellitto |
7-2 |
19-9 |
| 1963-64 |
Herb Sutter |
7-2 |
16-8 |
| 1962-63 |
Herb Sutter |
7-2 |
16-6 |
| 1959-60 |
Herb Sutter |
7-2 |
16-8 |
| 1955-56 |
Herb Sutter |
7-2 |
20-3 |
| 1950-51 |
Herb Sutter |
7-2 |
18-7 |
| 1949-50 |
Herb Sutter |
7-2 |
19-5 |
| 1948-49 |
Herb Sutter |
7-2 |
16-7 |
| 1940-41 |
Herb Sutter |
7-2 |
12-5 |
| 1986-87 |
Neil Kennett |
6-3 |
16-13 |
| 1980-81 |
P.J. Carlesimo |
6-3 |
16-11 |
| 1939-40 |
Herb Sutter |
6-3 |
8-11 |
| 1926-27 |
John Futchs |
6-3 |
8-10 |
MOST NON-CONFERENCE WINS (DOES NOT INCLUDE POSTSEASON WINS/LOSSES):
| School |
Record |
Season |
| St. Francis Brooklyn * |
9-6 |
2013-14 |
| Robert Morris |
9-4 |
2011-12 |
| WAGNER |
9-2 |
2011-12 |
| Robert Morris |
9-4 |
2007-08 |
| Monmouth |
9-3 |
1991-92 |
Including postseason games, Robert Morris holds the record with 11 wins in 2011-12 ( 2 wins in CIT)
BEST NON-CONFERENCE RECORDS BY PERCENTAGE (DOES NOT INCLUDE POSTSEASON WINS/LOSSES)
| Rank |
School |
Record |
Win Percentage |
Season |
| 1 |
Robert Morris * |
8-1 |
.889 |
2006-07 |
| 2. |
WAGNER |
7-1 |
.875 |
2017-18 |
|
Marist |
7-1 |
.875 |
1995-96 |
| 4 |
WAGNER |
9-2 |
.818 |
2011-12 |
| 5 |
WAGNER * |
7-2 |
.778 |
2005-06 |
| 6 |
Monmouth |
9-3 |
.750 |
1991-92 |
| 7 |
LIU Brooklyn |
8-3 |
.727 |
2010-11 |
|
Quinnipiac |
8-3 |
.727 |
2010-11 |
|
WAGNER |
8-3 |
.727 |
2008-09 |
|
LIU Brooklyn |
8-3 |
.727 |
1990-91 |
|
Monmouth |
8-3 |
.727 |
1990-91 |
|
LIU Brooklyn ^ |
8-3 |
.727 |
1986-87 |
* Includes one non-DI win | ^ Includes two non-DI wins
The Shot:
- March 9, 1993... In what will forever be known as "The Shot," Rider's Darrick Suber earned a place in NEC annals and ESPN Championship Week history in 1993.
- The Broncs and Seahawks battled tooth-and-nail for 39-plus minutes as Suber and Wagner's Bobby Hopson waged their own individual dual.
- With the Broncs trailing by a point in the game's waning seconds, Suber went coast-to-coast and hit an off-balance leaner just inside the free-throw line as time expired. The victory sent the Broncs Zoo into a frenzy and for a short time, brought the NEC into the forefront of the college basketball world.
The Dunk:
- December 8, 2015... In what is known around Grymes Hill as "The Dunk," Dwaun Anderson ('15) soared high to slam home a game-winning, one-handed put-back jam off a missed jumper to give Wagner a stirring 65-64 road victory over Rider.
- After a 10-foot jumper by Anderson made it 63-60 with 60 seconds to play, Xavier Lundy made back-to-back layups to give the Broncs a one-point lead with 12 seconds remaining.
- On Wagner's ensuing possession, Anderson had a layup blocked out of bounds with six seconds left by Lundy, forcing Seahawk head coach Bashir Mason to call a time out to design the final possession.
- From underneath the Seahawk basket, Michael Carey ('17) lofted the inbounds pass to an open former Seahawk, Corey Henson, whose three-point try bounded high off of the back of the rim.
- In traffic, Anderson, the athletic, 6-4, 210 former Mr. Basketball of his home state of Michigan, then soared over a host of players from both teams to slam home the putback jam.
- Following a timeout with two seconds to play, Rider did manage to get off a potential game-winning three-pointer by Teddy Okerafor which came up short.
Good Basketball Always Starts With Good Defense!:
- Three times this season, Wagner's tenacious defense has held its opponents to 50 points or less, which includes their most recent victory, a 75-41 performance over Division II members, Mercy College, back on December 10.
- Four times this year, the Seahawks have held opponents to under 35.0 percent shooting from the floor, while holding both Hartford (27.5%) and Mercy (24.1%) to under 30.0 percent shooting.
- Through eight games, the Seahawks are first in several statistical categories, including scoring defense (65.1 ppg), scoring margin ( 10.9), field-goal percentage defense (.379), three-point field goal percentage defense (.305) blocked shots (5.38).
Tale of Two Halves:
- In the first half of games this season, Wagner is outscoring its opponents by 3.1 points per game (35.2 to 32.1) while shooting 41.1 percent and 40.9 percent from the outside. Additionally, Wagner holds a 5.0 advantage on the boards, outmuscling their opposition 21.1 to 16.1.
- When play resumes for the second half, the Green & White are outscoring its opponents, 40.8 to 33.0 ( 7.8), while holding a 19.5 to 17.3 edge on the boards ( 2.3).
Francis Tabbed #NECPrimePerformer & MBWA Honorable Mention In The Same Week:
Action Jackson:
- Freshman forward Nigel Jackson is averaging 11.5 points per game while grabbing a team-best 8.3 rebounds per contest in four home games this season.
- Over the last five games, Jackson has netted 10.6 ppg and 7.0 rpg while shooting 51.5 percent from the field and 45.5 percent from three-point range.
- The neophyte forward, who is averaging 8.4 points overall this season, ranks eighth in the Northeast Conference (NEC) in percentage of points, accounting for 11.1 percent.
- Jackson currently ranks third among all NEC-freshmen in rebounding at 5.4 per contest while his 8.4 ppg is eighth in the circuit.
Cooper on Verge of 100th Game in Seahawk Uniform:
- Senior guard JoJo Cooper will be playing in his 100th career game when the Seahawks and Broncs tipoff on Saturday afternoon.
- In 99 previous contests, the Wilmington, DE native has averaged 6.5 ppg, 3.6 assists per game while pulling down 3.5 caroms a contest.
- In his career, Cooper has scored 647 points, grabbed 350 rebounds, and dished out 360 assists.
Ready & Break:
- Through eight games this season, the Seahawks have displayed a more up-tempo offense than in years past as Wagner is averaging 11.2 points a game via fast break while limiting its opponents to just 2.4 fast-break points per outing.
- Last season, in 30 games, Wagner logged 133 total points off fast break chances, averaging out to 4.4. a contest.
It's The Final (Five Minute) Countdown:
- Through eight games this season, Wagner has thrived in the final five minutes of their contests.
- The team is averaging 14.6 points while yielding just 8.3 a contest.
- Wagner is shooting 51.6 percent from the field and 45.8 percent from beyond-the-arc in the final five minutes of games.
- The Seahawks defense is usually on full display during this time, limiting their counterparts to just 8.3 points per game while connecting on just 25.0 percent from the field and 23.1 percent from the outside.
Capitalizing Off Turnovers:
- Through eight games this season, Wagner is averaging 18.1 points off turnovers while its opponents are logging just 13.0 ppg (145-104).
Bel-DEV-Devoe:
- Junior guard Devin Liggeons made his first of the season against Staten Island back on November 21. He reached double-figures for the second time in his career, finishing with 14 points and eight rebounds in 26 minutes of play.
- In five starts this season, Liggeons is averaging 9.4 ppg while pulling down 6.2 rpg and shooting 45.2 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from the outside.
#OperationPackSpiro:
- With the men's team off to its best start in their history, we need our fans to continue making the Spiro Sports Center the raucous venue in all of the Northeast Conference (NEC).
- See for yourself on Friday, December 29 as the Green & White hosts the defending league champions, Mount St. Mary's.
- Come one, tell a friend, bring all as we are in full-out #OperationPackSpiro mode!
Next Up For Wagner:
- The Seahawks conclude their short tour of the Garden State when they travel to Newark, NJ to take on the 15th-ranked Seton Hall University Pirates at the Prudential Center.
- Tipoff is slated for a 7:00 p.m. and the game will be aired on Fox Sports One (FS1).
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