Box Score

Pictured Above: Fifth-year senior forward AJ Sumbry (photo by Dave Saffran)

South Orange, NJ – Seton Hall junior guard Myles Powell tossed in 30 points to lead a balanced offensive attack as the Pirates posted an 89-49 win over Wagner in the season opener for both teams at Walsh Gymnasium on Tuesday night.
 
While Seton Hall's leading returning scorer was hitting early and often, the Seahawks' leading returning scorer, 6-3 fifth-year senior guard, Romone Saunders, was saddled by two fouls at the game's outset, forcing him to the sideline for the final 15:40 of the first half as the Pirates opened a 43-27 lead at the break.
 
Fifth-year senior forward AJ Sumbry, senior guard Devin Liggeons, and redshirt junior forward Lonnie Rivera, seeing his first action as a Seahawk, each hit for six opening-half points. Rivera, a 6-6 transfer from American University, who sat out last season due to NCAA transfer rules, tallied his six first-half points on a pair of three-point jumpers.
 
After Sumbry hit a pretty floater in the lane to draw Wagner with three points at 9-6, SHU went on a 9-0 run, with seven coming from Powell, in opening an 18-6 bulge. The Seahawks responded with 6-2 burst, keyed by an old-fashioned three-point play by Liggeons, which made it a 20-12 game at the 10:29 mark of the opening half.
 
Powell, who shot a blistering 10-of-13 for the game, which included 5-of-7 accuracy from three-point range, then knocked down a trey to open a 23-12 lead with 10:10 to go in the half, and the Pirates were able to maintain that double-digit lead the rest of the way.
 
With a second Seahawk starter, sophomore forward Nigel Jackson picking up his third and fourth personal fouls in the opening two minutes of the second half, the Pirates opened the final stanza on a 12-2 run in building a commanding 55-29 lead with 15:23 remaining.
                                                
For the game, the 6'8" Sumbry was the lone Seahawk to hit for double figures, finishing with 12 points, to go with four rebounds against a tall, powerful Big East front court that featured six players who go 6'9" or taller, including a pair of 7-footers.
 
Senior guard Elijah Davis provided a lift off the bench for Wagner, hitting for eight points, while pulling down four boards. Saunders managed seven points, all in the second half, while Liggeons and Rivera finished with six points apiece.
 
Michael Nezi added 11 points for the Pirates, while Myles Cale had eight as 11 different Pirates found the scoring column on this night.
 
SHU held a 41-29 edge in the rebounding department while outshooting Wagner, 52 percent to 32 percent.
 
In addition to Rivera, four other Seahawks saw their first action as Seahawks in junior forward Chance Anderson, junior guard Jeff Coulanges, along with freshman guards Jonathan Norfleet and Tyrone Nesby IV.

Tonight's loss snapped a two-game winning streak in season openers for the Seahawks as Wagner knocked off No. 18 UConn at the road two years ago before opening last season with a victory at NJIT.
 
Wagner is next in action on Saturday, November 10 when the Green & White travel to UMass Lowell of the America East Conference. Tip-off between the Seahawks and the River Hawks, in a contest that can be seen on ESPN 3, is set for 1:00 p.m.
 
Follow Us: #CHAOSonthehill
Wagner Athletics       
Men's Basketball:   
Head Coach Bashir Mason: