Newark, NJ - The Wagner College men's basketball team trailed 35-33 at the half and tied the game at 35-35 to start the second half before falling 85-63 to #25 Seton Hall on Wednesday night at the Prudential Center.
Wagner was coached by assistant coach
Bobby Jordan and limited to just nine players on the night. Head coach
Bashir Mason is scheduled to return for Saturday's game at Stony Brook.
The Seahawks were led by redshirt-senior
Raekwon Rogers, who contributed 15 points, while senior Jahbril Price-Noel poured in 11 points in his first start of the season. Graduate student
Elijah Ford added 10 points throughout the contest.
Down 13-4 early, the Seahawks fought their way into the game, as a Price Noel three with 6:57 to play in the first half cut the deficit to 23-19.
In the final four minutes of the first half, the Seahawks went on an 8-2 run, as buckets by Rogers, Ford, and freshman
Zaire Williams made it a one-possession game at the midway mark.
Coming out of the half, Rogers tied the game at 35-35, but it wasn't enough, as the Pirates pulled away for the victory late.
After being held to just 43.8% (14-32) from the field in the first half, Seton Hall shot 60.6% (20-33) in the second half to earn the victory. The Pirates were led by Jared Rhoden and Tyrese Samuel, who contributed 15 points apiece.
With the loss, Wagner falls to 2-1 on the season, while the nationally ranked Pirates improve to 6-1 on the year.
On the night, freshman
Javier Ezquerra recorded the first points of his collegiate career, while junior
Ashton Miller saw his first action in a Seahawk uniform. Freshman
Rob Taylor II contributed seven points in just 2:35 minutes of action.
Wagner will return on Saturday, with tip-off between the Seahawks and Seawolves scheduled for 6:30 pm on SNY.
