Staten Island, NY - The 2018 Northeast Conference (NEC) Men's Basketball Tournament kicks off on Wednesday as the top-seeded Wagner Seahawks host the 8th-seeded Central Connecticut State University Blue Devils in a 7:00 p.m. tip-off at the Spiro Sports Center.
Seahawk Tidbits:
- Wagner will enjoy home court advantage throughout the playoffs, having clinched its second NEC regular season title in the last three years last weekend. As a regular season conference champion, the Seahawks will earn the league's automatic bid to the postseason National Invitational Tournament (NIT) should they falter in the conference tourney.
- As the overall No. 1 seed , Wagner is 5-1 all time, having secured the 2003 league title while reaching the finals in 1993, 2005 and 2016.
- The Green & White have entered the conference tournament as the No. 3 seed or higher in six of the last seven years while advancing to the semifinals in five of the last six seasons.
- The Seahawks are 3-0 at home and against Central Connecticut in NEC Tournament play.
Last Time Out For Wagner: @ Central Connecticut (February 22, 2018):
- Senior guard JoJo Cooper dribbled the length of the court, pulled up at the foul line, and knocked down a jump shot with 0.4 seconds left to play to lift first-place Wagner to a pulsating 64-62 Northeast Conference (NEC) victory at Central Connecticut on Thursday night.
- Redshirt junior guard Romone Saunders paced a balanced offensive effort with 14 points to lead five players in double figures. Cooper's clutch game-winner gave him 13 points, which matched the output supplied by junior guard Devin Liggeons, while sophomore guard Blake Francis and redshirt junior forward A.J. Sumbry added 10 points apiece. Sumbry paced the Seahawks with a game-high eight caroms in the victory.
- In a tight, evenly-played game throughout, the Seahawks trailed 34-31 at halftime and never led by more than eight points. A three-pointer by Saunders with 1:27 left to play gave Wagner a 62-57 lead. On CCSU's ensuing possession, Tyler Kohl drained a three-pointer to make it a two-point game at 62-60.
- Central regained possession of the ball with 26 seconds left following a missed jumper by Cooper. After calling a timeout with 21 seconds to go, Kohl hit a cutting Deion Bute who converted a layup with seven seconds remaining, tying the game at 62-62 as the Seahawks called timeout to set up their final possession.
- Following the timeout, Cooper received the inbounds pass from Saunders and quickly dribbled the ball up the middle of the court before he put on the brakes at the foul line, pulled up, and knocked down the game winner. The Blue Devils immediately called timeout with 0.3 ticks left, which was not enough time to get off a final shot, as the Seahawks began to celebrate their 21st win of the season.
- For CCSU, Joe Hugley led the way with 17 points while Austin Nehls and Kohl added 15 and 13 points, respectively.
All-Time Series Against The Central Connecticut State University Blue Devils:
- Wagner holds a 27-19 lead in the all-time head-to-head series.
- The Seahawks are currently 6-0 in their last six meeting against the Blue Devils, winning by an average margin of 16.4 points (71.7-55.3).
- Head Coach Bashir Mason is 11-3 all-time against Central Connecticut.
- Wagner is 3-0 all time against the Blue Devils in the NEC Tournament, all at the Spiro Sports Center.
SERIES BREAKDOWN
| Overall Series Record |
Wagner 26, Central Connecticut 19 |
| Last Five Games |
Wagner 5, Central Connecticut 0 |
| Last Ten Games |
Wagner 9, Central Connecticut 1 |
| Most Points Scored By Wagner |
106: January 6, 2001 - CCSU 84, Wagner 106 |
| Fewest Points Scored By Wagner |
36: 1939-40 - Wagner 36, CCSU 51 |
| Wagner's Largest Win Margin |
30: January 31, 2015 - CCSU 55, Wagner 85 |
| Most Points Scored By Central Connecticut |
89: February 2, 2008 - Wagner 63, CCSU 89 |
| Fewest Points Scored By Central Connecticut |
35: 1940-1941 - Wagner 47, CCSU 35 |
| Central Connecticut Largest Win Margin |
26: February 2, 2008 - Wagner 63, CCSU 89 |
| Current Wagner Streak Against Opponent |
Won, 7 |
| First Meeting |
1939-1940 - Wagner 36, CCSU 51 |
| Last Meeting |
February 22, 2018 - Wagner 64, CCSU 62 |
| Last Wagner Win |
February 22, 2018 - Wagner 64, CCSU 62 |
| Last Central Connecticut Win |
January 24, 2015 - Wagner 50, CCSU 53 |
|
All-Time vs. the Current Members of the Northeast Conference:
- Against current members of the Northeast Conference (NEC), Wagner is 255-232 (.524) all time.
- Under head coach Bashir Mason, the Seahawks are 70-36
Wagner All-Time Record vs.
Northeast Conference Schools
(Includes Postseason)
| SCHOOL |
RECORD |
LAST MEETING |
W/L |
| Bryant |
11-5 |
2/8/2018 |
Won, 96-76 |
| Central Connecticut |
27-19 |
2/22/2018 |
Won, 64-62 |
| Fairleigh Dickinson |
55-53 |
2/11/18 |
Lost, 76-69 |
| LIU Brooklyn |
46-60 |
2/17/2018 |
Won, 78-74 |
| Mount St. Mary's |
37-22 |
2/24/2018 |
Lost, 73-62 |
| Robert Morris |
29-44 |
1/28/2018 |
Won, 77-64 |
| Sacred Heart |
24-14 |
2/15/2018 |
Won, 99-84 |
| St. Francis Brooklyn |
44-51 |
12/31/2017 |
Lost, 82-75 |
| Saint Francis U |
36-36 |
1/26/2018 |
Won, 91-61 |
2017-18 Northeast Conference (NEC) Standings (including contests through 2/24/2018)
| SCHOOL |
NEC |
PCT |
OVERALL |
PCT |
STREAK |
| 1. WAGNER * ^ |
14-4 |
.778 |
21-8 |
.724 |
L1 |
| 2. Mount St. Mary's * |
12-6 |
.667 |
18-13 |
.581 |
W3 |
| Saint Francis U * |
12-6 |
.667 |
18-11 |
.621 |
W5 |
| 4. LIU Brooklyn * |
10-8 |
.556 |
15-16 |
.484 |
W2 |
| St. Francis Brooklyn * |
10-8 |
.556 |
13-17 |
.433 |
L2 |
| 6. Fairleigh Dickinson * |
9-9 |
.500 |
12-17 |
.414 |
W1 |
| Robert Morris * |
9-9 |
.500 |
15-16 |
.484 |
L3 |
| 8. Central Connecticut |
7-11 |
.389 |
14-17 |
.452 |
W1 |
| 9. Sacred Heart |
5-13 |
.278 |
10-21 |
.323 |
L1 |
| 10. Bryant |
2-16 |
.111 |
3-28 |
.097 |
L4 |
* Clinched NEC Tournament berth
^ Clinched NEC Regular Season title
Scouting The Central Connecticut State University Blue Devils:
- Central Connecticut earned the #8 seed in the NEC Tournament with a win on Saturday to close the regular season.
- CCSU is back in the NEC Tournament for the first time since 2013-14. Prior to that, the Blue Devils had qualified for 16 consecutive NEC tourneys
- This is Central's first trip to the NEC Tournament under second-year head coach Donyell Marshall. No player on CCSU's roster has played in the NEC Tournament.
- CCSU is 15-13 all-time in the NEC Tournament, having won three titles (2000, 2002, 2007). The Blue Devils were seeded #1 on all three occasions.
- Tyler Kohl was the lone representative for the Blue Devils as he earned All-NEC Second Team honors.
Coach Mason Earns Second NEC Coach Of The Year Honors:
- On the eve of the 2018 Northeast Conference (NEC) Tournament, it was announced that Wagner sixth-year head coach Bashir Mason, who has led the Seahawks to a 21-8 record and the No. 1 seed in this week's tourney, been named the 2017-18 Jim Phelan Coach of the Year.
- In receiving Coach of the Year honors, Mason becomes the first Seahawk coach in men's program history to win the award multiple times, having first won the honor back in 2016.
- In all, it marks the fourth time that a Seahawk bench boss has won the award: Mason (2015-16 & 2017-18), Dereck Whittenburg (2002-03) and Tim Capstraw (1991-92)
- Coach Mason becomes the tenth coach in NEC history to win two or more Coach of the Year awards. He joins St. Francis Brooklyn's Glenn Braica (2011-12 & 2014-15), Jim Ferry (LIU Brooklyn | 2004-05 & 2010-11), Mike Rice (Robert Morris | 2007-08 & 2008-09), Howie Dickenman (Central Connecticut | 1999-00, 2001-02, 2005-06, 2006-07), Ron Ganulin (St. Francis Brooklyn | 1997-98 & 2003-04), Jim Phelan (Mount St. Mary's | 1992-93 & 1995-96), Dave Magarity (Marist | 1986-87 & 1994-95), Jarrett Durham (Robert Morris | 1988-89 & 1989-90) and Tom Green (Fairleigh Dickinson | 1984-85 & 1985-1986).
Cooper, Francis, Saunders Garner All-NEC Honors:
- The Seahawks had three players garner All-NEC honors as senior guard JoJo Cooper (Wilmington, DE/Concord) earned First Team accolades. Sophomore guard Blake Francis (Herndon, VA/Westfield) was named to the Second Team and redshirt junior guard Romone Saunders (Temple Hills, MD/Potomac [Mt. Zion Prep]) was selected as one of five players to the Third Team.
- With three Seahawk student-athletes earning all-league honors, it marks the first time since the 1994-95 season in which the program has had three or more players named to an all-conference team as that season Tony Rice and Milan Rikic were each selected to the Second Team while Dan Seigle earned a spot on the All-Newcomer Team.
- To Read the Full Release: CLICK HERE
Wagner All-Time 20-Win Seasons:
- The 2017-18 Seahawks are the eighth team in Wagner history to reach the 20-win mark.
- The 21 wins by the 2017-18 Seahawks are tied for fourth in all-time single-season wins
- The 21 regular season wins are the most under Bashir Mason. In 2015-16, Mason led the Seahawks to a regular season mark of 20-9 en route to a 23-11 overall record.
- A win over Mount St. Mary's would give Wagner a 15-3 NEC record, tying the 2007-08 and the 2011-12 teams for the Seahawks' best single-season NEC record.
Wagner Basketball All-Time 20-Win Seasons
| Year |
Overall |
NEC Record |
Head Coach |
| 2011-12 |
25-6 |
15-3 |
Dan Hurley |
| 2015-16 |
23-11 |
13-5 |
Bashir Mason |
| 2007-08 |
23-8 |
15-3 |
Mike Deane |
| 2002-03 |
21-11 |
14-4 |
Dereck Whittenburg |
| 2017-18 |
21-8 |
14-4 |
Bashir Mason |
| 1978-79 |
21-7 |
|
P.J. Carlesimo |
| 1967-68 * |
21-8 |
|
Chester Sellitto |
| 1955-56 * |
20-3 |
|
Herb Sutter |
* Pre-Division I Era
Serious Home Cooking:
- The Spiro Center has turned into a house of horrors for opponents this season, and Wagner head coach Bashir Mason and his players kept it that way, at least in the regular season.
- Wagner matched the program record for wins at the Spiro Sports Center with 14 as the Seahawks defeated LIU Brooklyn, 78-74, on Senior Day (Feb. 17) to remain undefeated at home.
- The Seahawks are one of ten teams left unbeaten at home this season as the Seahawks possess the seventh-longest home win streak in the nation.
- South Dakota State of the Summit League holds the nation's longest win streak at 19 straight, followed by Texas Tech (17), Louisiana and Rhode Island (16), followed by Stephen F. Austin and College of Charleston, each at 15 straight home wins.
- Since the Spiro Sports Center opened on February 20, 1999, the Green & White have had nine seasons in which the team has posted double-digit victories, and the first since the 2015-16 season, when that squad, coached by Coach Mason, finished 13-4.
| Season |
Home Record |
Overall Record |
Result |
Coach |
| 2000-01 |
11-8 |
16-13 |
NEC Quarterfinals |
Dereck Whittenburg |
| 2001-02 |
13-5 |
19-10 |
NEC Quarterfinals
NIT Participant |
Dereck Whittenburg |
| 2002-03 |
14-1 |
21-11 |
NEC Regular Season Champions
NEC Tournament Champions
NCAA Tournament Participant |
Dereck Whittenburg |
| 2007-08 |
13-3 |
23-8 |
NEC Semifinals |
Mike Deane |
| 2011-12 |
12-3 |
25-6 |
NEC Semifinals |
Dan Hurley |
| 2012-13 |
11-3 |
19-12 |
NEC Semifinals |
Bashir Mason |
| 2013-14 |
10-3 |
19-12 |
NEC Semifinals |
Bashir Mason |
| 2015-16 |
13-4 |
23-11 |
NEC Regular Season Champions
NIT Participant |
Bashir Mason |
| 2017-18 |
14-0 |
21-8 |
??? |
Bashir Mason |
- How rare would it be for the Seahawks to go undefeated at home for the entire season? In the history of the NEC, only five teams have posted unblemished home records with LIU Brooklyn being the most recent. The Blackbirds went 15-0 at the Steinberg Wellness Center en-route to winning the second of three straight NEC championships.
- In fact, the five teams that went unbeaten at home all won the NEC regular-season championship and four of the five captured NEC Tournament titles.
NEC Teams With Perfect Home Records
| Team |
Record |
Year |
Result |
| Wagner |
14-0 |
2017-18 |
??? |
| LIU Brooklyn |
15-0 |
2011-12 |
NEC Champion |
| Monmouth |
13-0 |
2003-04 |
NEC Champion |
| LIU Brooklyn |
12-0 |
1996-97 |
NEC Champion |
| Fairleigh Dickinson |
15-0 |
1990-91 |
NEC Runner-Up |
| Robert Morris |
12-0 |
1982-83 |
NEC Champion |
Milestone For Coach Mason:
- Head coach Bashir Mason, who is currently the sixth-youngest active head coach in Division I, reached a coaching career milestone on Saturday, January 20.
- In Wagner's 62-49 home victory over Robert Morris back on January 20th, Coach Mason earned his 100th career coaching victory.
- In the process, Coach Mason became just the third Seahawk bench boss to eclipse the 100 career wins, joining former coaches Herb Sutter (352) and Tim Capstraw (117).
- Additionally, Coach Mason and Capstraw are the only two Seahawk coaches to reach 100 wins in the Division I era, which began in 1976-77, under Wagner Hall of Famer and 3x-time NBA Champion, P.J. Carlesimo
| Wagner Coach |
Career Record |
Years Coached |
| Herb Sutter |
352-252 |
1937-1965 |
| Tim Capstraw |
117-164 |
1989-1999 |
| BASHIR MASON |
108-77 |
2012-present |
| Chester Sellitto |
97-89 |
1965-1972 |
| 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 |
Cooper Keeping Good Company:
- JoJo Cooper's (Wilmington, DE/Concord) terrific all-around numbers for first place Wagner this season have elevated him to quite the lofty perch.
- Cooper is currently one of only two players in the nation this season averaging at least 14 points, 5.5 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 1.5 steals per game on the year. Jon Elmore of Marshall has also reached these minimums.
- If the senior guard maintains those statistical plateaus for the remainder of the season, he would be just the 10th player in the last 25 years to end the year as a 14p/5.5r/6a/1.5s man.
- How exclusive is that list? Of the nine players who have achieved the statistical feat, seven have played in the NBA, including current ballers Kyle Anderson (Spurs), Lonzo Ball (Lakers) and Kyle Collinsworth (Mavericks). The list also includes former NBA All-Stars Jason Kidd and Penny Hardaway, and former NBA players Luke Walton and Eddie Gill.
| Player |
Class |
Season |
Position |
School |
PPG |
RPG |
APG |
SPG |
| Anfernee (Penny) Hardaway |
Junior |
1992-93 |
Guard |
Memphis |
22.8 |
8.5 |
6.4 |
2.4 |
| Jason Kidd |
Sophomore |
1993-94 |
Guard |
California |
16.7 |
6.9 |
9.1 |
3.1 |
| Eddie Gill |
Senior |
1999-00 |
Guard |
Weber State |
16.3 |
6.4 |
6.9 |
3.2 |
| Sean Kennedy |
Senior |
2001-02 |
Guard |
Marist |
14.7 |
5.5 |
7.9 |
1.9 |
| Luke Walton |
Junior |
2001-02 |
Forward |
Arizona |
15.7 |
7.3 |
6.3 |
1.6 |
| Kyle Anderson |
Sophomore |
2013-14 |
Guard |
UCLA |
14.6 |
8.8 |
6.5 |
1.8 |
| Alex Hamilton |
Senior |
2015-16 |
Guard |
Louisiana Tech |
19.8 |
5.7 |
6.2 |
2.0 |
| Kyle Collinsworth |
Senior |
2015-16 |
Guard |
Brigham Young |
15.3 |
8.2 |
7.4 |
2.0 |
| Lonzo Ball |
Freshman |
2016-17 |
Guard |
UCLA |
14.6 |
6.0 |
7.6 |
1.8 |
| JoJo Cooper |
Senior |
2017-18 |
Guard |
Wagner |
14.2 |
5.6 |
6.2 |
1.5 |
Pair of Seahawks Moving Up The Career Charts:
- Senior guard JoJo Cooper moved into sole possession of eighth place on the Wagner all-time career assists list, as he has dished out 495 career helpers, passing Tony Rice (1992-96). Next up for Cooper is Seahawk Hall of Famer, Billy Kurisko (1987-91), who stands at 496.
Wagner All-Time Career Assists List
5. Arvie Powell 520
6. Billy Kurisko 496
9. Kenneth Ortiz 429
- Redshirt junior forward AJ Sumbry has moved up on the Wagner all-time career blocks list, as the East Windsor, NJ native now has 93 rejections as a member of the Wagner basketball program.
- Sumbry is in sole possession of eighth-place and has a chance to move into seventh as he will need surpass former Seahawk Nigel Wyatte ('04).
Wagner All-Time Career Blocks List (min. 75)
6. Nick Frederick 105
7. Nigel Wyatte 94
10. Mark Porter 84
11. Largest Agberhemsin 79
Cooper's Quest:
- It has been a magical senior season for Wagner senior guard JoJo Cooper (Wilmington, DE/Concord), and while an NEC Tournament title would be the icing on the cake, he also has the chance to etch himself in the conference recordbook.
- With 960 points, 474 rebounds and 495 assists, the NEC Co-Player of the Week has an opportunity to enter the rare 1,000/500/500 club should the Seahawks make a deep postseason run.
- Only two NEC players have ever reached the milestone: Mount St. Mary's great Gregory Harris, who amassed 1,760 points, 615 rebounds and 529 assists from 1996-00, and Wagner's Mark Porter who ended his career with 1,577 points, 531 rebounds and 523 assists.
- Since 1992, there have been just 55 players nationally to finish with 1,000/500/500, including NBA players Jameer Nelson, Speedy Claxton, Shabazz Napier, Frank Mason, Denzel Valentine, Andre Miller, Tim Frazier, TJ McConnell, Greivis Vasquez, Nate Wolters, Kyle Collinsworth and Luke Walton.
- The Seahawks are 8-2 in its last ten games.
- The team is averaging 78.7 ppg, shooting 45.5 percent from the field, 38.2 percent from three-point range and 69.9 percent from the free-throw line.
- Wagner is holding opponents to 69.0 points per game, 43.3 percent from the field, 39.5 from beyond-the-arc and 67.4 percent from the charity stripe.
- The Green & White are a +5.0 on the boards, outmuscling opponents 37.5 to 32.5.
- Romone Saunders has scored 16.9 ppg while pulling down 6.9 caroms over his last ten contests.
- Blake Francis is netting 16.4 ppg over his last tne games while dialing it up from the outside at a 42.9 percent clip.
- JoJo Cooper is chipping in 14.6 ppg over his last ten games, while dishing out 6.5 apg, and grabbing a 4.1 rebounds in 37.7 minutes of action.
Next Up For Wagner:
- If Wagner defeats Central Connecticut this evening, the Seahawks will advance to the NEC semifinals on Saturday, March 3rd at 2:00 p.m.
- If Wagner is defeated by the Blue Devils, the Green & White will wait to hear their names called for the National Invitational Tournament (NIT).
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