Pictured Above: Freshman guard Chase Freeman (Credit: Dave Saffran)
Staten Island, NY - The Wagner men's basketball team will look to remain perfect inside the friendly confines of the Spiro Sports Center when the Seahawks welcome the Fairleigh Dickinson University Knights to Staten Island on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. in the second game of a doubleheader with the women's teams from these two Northeast Conference (NEC) rivals set to tip at 1:00 p.m.
Seahawk Three-Pointers:
- The second week of NEC action concludes at home for the Seahawks as the Seahawks square off against the Fairleigh Dickinson University Knights.
- Wagner is taking on its fourth school from the Garden State as the Seahawks are a combined 112-193 against Division I programs from the state of New Jersey all time while sixth-year head coach, Bashir Mason, is 15-12 all-time against New Jersey-based Division I opponents.
- The Seahawks are 7-0 this season at the Spiro Sports Center, averaging 80.9 points per game while shooting 44.5 percent from the field and 34.8 percent from downtown and are a 12.6 on the glass (318-230).
Last Time Out: vs. Sacred Heart University Pioneers (January 4, 2018):
- Redshirt junior guard Romone Saunders matched his career high with 24 points to lead three players in double figures, which, combined with a defensive effort that held Sacred Heart to 37 percent shooting, led the Wagner men's basketball team to a gutsy 69-63 win over Sacred Heart at the Spiro Sports Center on Thursday night.
- Saunders' 24-point night, which was also a season high, came on 7-of-14 shooting from the floor and included nine rebounds, as he came within one carom of a double-double. Senior guard JoJo Cooper added 14 points, five assists and five rebounds, while sophomore guard Blake Francis added 13 points.
- Mario Matasovic paced the Pioneers with 16 points on the evening while Zach Radz and Joseph Lopez added 12 and 10 points, respectively. In addition to his 10 points, Lopez pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds in finishing with a double-double.
- Wagner outshot SHU by a slight 40-37 percent margin, out-rebounded the Pioneers, 46-40, held a 28-24 edge in points in the paint and a 16-8 margin in second-chance points. SHU, meanwhile, led in points off turnovers (12-9), fastbreak points (8-5), while enjoying an overwhelming 25-4 edge in points off the bench.
- The game featured three ties and eight lead changes, all of which came in the second half.
- With the win, Wagner now leads the all-time head-to-head series, 23-14, improved to 13-6 all-time vs. SHU at the Spiro Sports Center. The Seahawks have won four of their last six meetings with the Pioneers, including a season sweep a year ago.
All-Time Series Against Fairleigh Dickinson University Knights:
- Saturday afternoon's contest will be the 107th all-time meeting between these two schools, with Wagner holding on to a slim 54-52 edge in the head-to-head series.
- Wagner has won three of the last five matchups against the Knights, which included the elimination of FDU from the 2017 Northeast Conference (NEC), in which the Seahawks squeaked by the Knights, 72-70.
- The Seahawks are just 28-22 all-time against the Knights at the Spiro Sports Center and 25-28 when they travel to Stratis Arena.
- Overall Series Record: Wagner 54, Fairleigh Dickinson 52
- Last Five Contests: Wagner 3, Fairleigh Dickinson 2
- Last Ten Contests: Wagner 7, Fairleigh Dickinson 3
- Most Points By Wagner: 102: February 23, 1987: Wagner 102, FDU 90
- Fewest Points By Wagner: 39: January 31, 1976: FDU 55, Wagner 39
- Wagner's Largest Win Margin: 28: February 24, 2007: FDU 63, Wagner 91
- Most Points By Fairleigh Dickinson: 112: March 3, 1969: Wagner 93, FDU 112
- Fewest Points By Fairleigh Dickinson: 50: February 28, 1978: FDU 50, Wagner 48
- Fairleigh Dickinson Largest Win Margin: 29: February 27, 1998: Wagner 49, FDU 78
- Current Streak: Wagner has won two straight
- First Meeting: December 16, 1955: Fairleigh Dickinson 68, Wagner 83
- Last Meeting: March 1, 2017: Fairleigh Dickinson 70, Wagner 72
- Last Wagner Win: March 1, 2017: Fairleigh Dickinson 70, Wagner 72
- Last Fairleigh Dickinson Win: January 5, 2017: Fairleigh Dickinson 70, Wagner 69
All-Time Vs. The Current Members Of The Northeast Conference:
- Against the current members of the Northeast Conference (NEC), Wagner is 242-229.
- Under head coach Bashir Mason, the Seahawks are 58-33.
Wagner All-Time Record vs.
Northeast Conference Schools
(Includes Postseason)
| SCHOOL |
RECORD |
LAST MEETING |
W/L |
| Bryant |
9-5 |
2/23/2017 |
Won, 69-66 |
| Central Connecticut |
25-19 |
2/2/2017 |
Won, 70-60 |
| Fairleigh Dickinson |
54-52 |
3/1/2017 |
Won, 72-70 |
| LIU Brooklyn |
45-59 |
2/25/2017 |
Lost, 88-84 (ot) |
| Mount St. Mary's |
37-21 |
12/29/2017 |
Won, 76-57 |
| Robert Morris |
27-44 |
2/11/2017 |
Lost, 50-48 |
| Sacred Heart |
22-14 |
1/21/2017 |
Won, 67-62 |
| St. Francis Brooklyn |
43-51 |
12/31/2017 |
Lost, 82-75 |
| Saint Francis U |
34-35 |
3/4/2017 |
Lost, 71-70 |
| TOTALS |
296-298 |
|
|
Scouting The Fairleigh Dickinson University Knights:
- FDU split their opening weekend on the road with an 11-point win at LIU Brooklyn and a last-second, one-point loss at Sacred Heart. Junior forward Mike Holloway Jr. is averaging a team-best 18.5 points and points and 8.5 rebounds across his first two NEC outings.
- The Knights have enjoyed a 8.5 turnover margin in the first two games and continue force steals at one of the highest rates in the country. Currently, the team forces 16.92 turnovers per game, which ranks 24th in the nation.
- In its most recent outing against Central Connecticut at home, FDU was victorious over the Blue Devils by a 81-77 count in the Knights' first home since November 26, when they welcomed Princeton to Stratis Arena.
- Reigning NEC Rookie of the Week, Noah Morgan, led four in double-figures with a team-high 21 points on 8-of-14 shooting from the field in 36 minutes of action. Darian Anderson added 14 points despite struggling from the field (5-of-14) in his 37 minutes of play. Jahlil Jenkins and Mike Holloway Jr.,, added 12 and 11 points, respectively in FDU's four-point win over CCSU.
- On the year, four Knights are averaging double-figures, paced by Anderson's 14.5 ppg. Holloway Jr. is netting 13.1 points and leads the squad on the glass, pulling down 6.6 caroms a contest.
Coach Mason Approaching The Century Mark For Career Wins:
- Coach Mason, who is currently the sixth-youngest head coach in Division I, is 96-74 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 (began in 1976-77).
| Wagner Coach |
Career Record |
Years Coached |
| Herb Sutter |
352-252 |
1937-1965 |
| Tim Capstraw |
117-164 |
1989-1999 |
| Chester Sellitto |
97-89 |
1965-1972 |
| BASHIR MASON |
96-74 |
2012-present |
| Mike Deane |
95-113 |
2003-2010 |
| 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 |
Homecourt Advantage:
- Opened in 1999 as part of a $13-million-dollar campus-wide improvement, the Spiro Sports Center is a 93,000 square foot student-oriented multi-purpose athletic and recreational facility.
- The first game in the Spiro Sports Center came on February 20, 1999 in which the Seahawks defeated NEC-rival, Fairleigh Dickinson, 78-56.
- The first basket came at the 19:45 mark as Wagner College Hall of Famer, Frantz Pierre Louis threw down a monstrous dunk.
- From that point, Wagner has played, including postseason, 249 home games at the Spiro Sports Center, compiling a 167-87 record in those contests (.657 winning percentage).
- Under Coach Mason, the Seahawks are 57-22 at home under his tutelage (.722 winning percentage).
Last Time Out Against Fairleigh Dickinson (March 1, 2017):
- Guard Michael Carey poured in a career-high 32 points and grabbed ten rebounds to will the No. 3-seeded Wagner men's basketball team to a thrilling 72-70 win over sixth-seeded Fairleigh Dickinson to advance to the semifinals of the Northeast Conference (NEC) Tournament in front a loud and spirited crowd of 1,514 fans at the Spiro Sports Center.
- In leading the Seahawks to a rousing victory over the defending NEC champions, the 6-5 Carey recorded his 11th double-double of the season and 26th of his two-year career. Carey's 32-point effort marked the first time a Seahawk eclipsed the 30-point plateau since former Seahawk Marcus Burton ['14] dropped 38 points vs. Mount St. Mary's back on January 5, 2015.
- In addition to Carey's career-night, fellow All-League honoree, Corey Henson finished with 14 points on 4-of-9 shooting from three-point range. Redshirt sophomore forward AJ Sumbry muscled his way for 11 points, nine rebounds and four blocked shots off the bench, matching a career-high in points.
Dishing And Swishing:
- Senior guard JoJo Cooper has enjoyed a revival to his Seahawk career, scoring more and racking up a bountiful amount of assists in the process.
- 11-times this season, Cooper has reached double-figures, scoring 14 points in the full 40 minutes in a 69-63 victory over Sacred Heart at the Spiro Sports Center on January 4, 2018.
- Entering the 2017-18 season, Cooper was tallying 8.2 ppg and has increased that production to 12.8 points a contest.
- The Wilmington, DE native ranks among the top-15 in the nation in assists per game as a senior, dishing out 5.9 apg.
Francis Heads Up Most Improved Scorers:
- When the NEC hands out its Most Improved Player award at year's end, there will be no shortage of deserving student-athletes from which to choose.
- Glancing at scoring alone, there are a number of players who have stepped up their game from last year, none more so than Wagner sophomore guard Blake Francis (Herndon, VA/Westfield).
- The Virginia native has filled the scoring void in the backcourt with the loss of Corey Henson, lifting his point production from 7.2 ppg as a freshman to a team-high 19.1 ppg this season, a 12.3 ppg and 165.3 percent bump.
- Francis ranks third in the NEC in scoring at 19.1 ppg.
NEC Most Improved Scorers
| Name |
2016-17 |
2017-18 |
PPG Increase |
| Blake Francis, Wagner |
7.2 ppg |
19.1 ppg |
11.9 ppg |
| Raiquan Clark, LIU Brooklyn |
6.2 ppg |
17.8 ppg |
11.6 ppg |
| Andre Wolford, Saint Francis U |
4.7 ppg |
14.1 ppg |
9.4 ppg |
| Dachon Burke, Robert Morris |
7.6 ppg |
16.2 ppg |
8.6 ppg |
| Junior Robinson, Mount St. Mary's |
14.1 ppg |
21.6 ppg |
7.5 ppg |
| Joel Hernandez, LIU Brooklyn |
12.2 ppg |
19.3 ppg |
7.1 ppg |
| Mario Matasovic, Sacred Heart |
5.9 ppg |
12.0 ppg |
6.1 ppg |
| Ikenna Ndugba, Bryant |
6.0 ppg |
11.7 ppg |
5.7 ppg |
| Sabastian Townes, Bryant |
6.2 ppg |
11.6 ppg |
5.4 ppg |
| JoJo Cooper, Wagner |
8.2 ppg |
12.9 ppg |
4.7 ppg |
* 2015-16 stats (sat out 2016-17)
Saying Goodbye To 2017:
- Wagner finished 8-5 overall in 2017 while posting a 4-4 record for the month of December.
- For the month, the Seahawks have outscored their opponents, 76.6 to 73.2 (613-586).
- Collectively, the Green & White is shooting 42.7 percent from the field, 32.4 from three-point range and 72.2 percent from the free-throw line.
- Wagner's opponents this month have shot 40.1 percent from the field, 33.8 percent from deep and 72.9 percent from the free-throw line.
- On the boards, the Seahawks finished December at a 5.6 outworking the opposition by a 40.9 to 35.2 edge on the glass.
- Sophomore guard Blake Francis is netting 19.4 points per game this month, while shooting 48.1 percent from the field, 36.9 percent from beyond-the-arc and 88.6 percent from the free-throw line.
- Senior guard JoJo Cooper has contributed 13.9 ppg, 6.9 apg, 6.9 rpg, 1.9 spg in 36.2 minutes.
November To Remember:
- To close out the first month of the 2017-18 season, Wagner went 4-1 for the month. For the month, the Seahawks have outscored their opponents, 73.0 to 66.4 (365-332).
- Collectively, the Green & White shot 41.0 percent from the field, 35.1 from three-point range and 76.8 percent from the free-throw line.
- Wagner's opponents in November connected on 39.8 percent from the field, 32.0 percent from deep and 65.1 percent from the free-throw line.
- Francis averaged 19.8 ppg on 44.3 percent shooting from the floor while hitting on 47.2 percent from long range. The second-year guard went 20-of-22 from the free-throw line as well.
- Cooper contributed 11.2 ppg, 4.4 apg, 4.2 rpg, 2.4 spg in 32.2 minutes.
Over The Last Five Games:
- The Seahawks are 2-3 in its last five games.
- The team is averaging 71.0 points per game while the opposition is averaging 74.0points
- On the boards, Wagner is a 3.2 over the last five games, outmuscling their opposition, 39.2-36.0 (196-180).
- Blake Francis continues to pace the offense, as he is pouring in 17.0 ppg on 42.6 percent shooting from the field, 32.6 percent from the outside while hitting on 76.5 percent at the free-throw line.
- JoJo Cooper has enjoyed a nice five-game stretch, in which the senior guard is tallying 12.4 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 5.4 apg, 1.2 spg in 37.0 minutes per contest.
- Romone Saunders is five games removed since making his season-debut at Rider. Over the redshirt junior guards last five games, he has contributed 11.2 ppg while logging 23.2 minutes a contest and earning the starting nod in three contest.
- AJ Sumbry is producing valuable numbers as the featured big man for the Seahawks this season. Over the East Windsor, NJ native's last five contests, Sumbry is netting 8.0 ppg, 6.6 rebounds per contest while swatting away 2.6 shots in 20.4 minutes of action.
Turning It Over And Capitalizing Off It:
- Wagner is averaging 16.4 points off turnovers while its opponents are logging just 14.7 ppg (226-206).
Cleaning Up On The Glass:
- Through the non-conference portion of its schedule, Wagner has dominated on the boards, outworking its opposition on the glass in eight of the eleven games.
- Three times this season (@ Missouri | @ Seton Hall| | @ St. Francis Brooklyn) were they outworked on the boards and once (@Hartford) that both teams finished with exactly 32 caroms.
- In the first Northeast Conference (NEC) game of the 2017-18 campaign, Wagner held a 17 edge on the glass, outrebounding Mount St. Mary's, 46-29, overall and 28-18 on the defensive glass.
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 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.
- The Seahawks are first in several statistical categories, including, scoring defense (70.1)scoring margin ( 4.7), field-goal percentage defense (.398), and blocked shots (5.0).
Next Up:
- Wagner embarks on a two-game road trip, starting on January 11 when the Seahawks head up to Smithfield, RI to tangle with the Bryant University Bulldogs.
- Tipoff from the Chace Athletic Center is slated for 7:00 p.m.
