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Smithfield, RI – The Wagner College men's basketball team will open Northeast Conference (NEC) play on Wednesday and Thursday, when the Seahawks travel to Bryant for two consecutive games. Both contests will tip off at 4 pm and air live on NECFrontRow.
Freshmen Make An Impact
In Wagner's season-opening loss to Seton Hall, head coach
Bashir Mason featured two freshmen in the starting lineup in
Elijah Allen and
DeLonnie Hunt. This marks the first time ever that Mason has started two first-year players in Wagner's season-opener. Allen and Hunt also become the first freshmen to start a season-opener since
Nigel Jackson made his Seahawk debut in 2017. Apart from Allen, Hunt, and Jackson, former Seahawk great
JoJo Cooper is the only freshman to ever start a season-opener under Mason
Allen and Hunt also led the Seahawks with 36 and 35 minutes on the court, respectively, while combining for 20 points and eight rebounds.
Elijahs Find The Basket
Wagner's top two leading scorers against Seton Hall share a first name, as
Elijah Allen and
Elijah Ford both scored 13 points against the Pirates, with both converting five field goals apiece in the loss. In the last decade, Wagner has not had two players with the same first name on the roster in the same season. Allen and Ford join
Elijah Davis as the only players in Seahawk history with the first name Elijah.
Conference Opener
Wagner is one of four NEC teams yet to play a conference game. Between Wednesday and Februray 26, the Seahawks are scheduled to play 18 NEC games. In a new four-team postseason format, the men's basketball semifinals will take place on March 6, with the NEC championship game scheduled for March 9.
The Series
This week's matchups vs. Bryant will mark the 21
st and 22
nd time the two schools meet, with Wagner holding an 11-9 edge in the head-to-head series. In last year's loss to the Bulldogs at the Spiro Sports Center, senior
Alex Morales scored 21 points and grabbed five rebounds, while Ford poured in 19 points earlier in the season in Smithfield.
Scouting The Bulldogs
Bryant comes into the series with a 4-2 record, most recently earning a 82-71 win over Stony Brook. In their lone conference games, the Bulldogs split St. Francis Brooklyn on December 8 and 9. The Bryant roster features five players who average more than ten points a game, with Michael Green III leading the way with 17.3 points per contest.
International Success
Seahawk alumni have had recent success playing oversees. Former Seahawk great Orlando Parker was the most recent alumnus to ink a new deal, as the seventh-year pro has signed with the London Lions. Parker joins a long list of former Seahawks to play professionally, as former Seahawk
AJ Sumbry most recently signed with BC Cactus Tbilisi in Georgia and Jojo Cooper inked a new deal with BC Raiffeisen Flyers Wels in Austria this offseason.
Visitor Information
Fans will not be allowed to attend this week's matchup at the Chace Athletic Center.
Next Up For Wagner
Following this week's series against Bryant, Wagner is scheduled to play a two-game set against Sacred Heart on December 21 and 22 at the Spiro Sports Center.
