Pictured Above: Freshman
DeLonnie Hunt (photo courtesy of St. Francis Brooklyn Athletics)
Brooklyn, NY – Senior
Alex Morales scored a career-high 27 points, while freshman
DeLonnie Hunt and senior
Elijah Ford scored 14 points apiece, as the Wagner men's basketball team earned a gritty 74-67 road victory over St. Francis Brooklyn on Thursday afternoon.
With their second straight victory, the Seahawks move to 3-4 in Northeast Conference (NEC) play, while the Terriers fall to 4-4 in conference action.
In a game that featured 14 lead changes and nine ties, the Seahawks trailed by as many as 10 points midway through the first half, but pulled away late to secure the victory.
Playing in their first contest in almost three weeks, the Green and White faced and early 28-18 deficit with 8:43 to play in the first half. Morales and senior
Will Martinez helped Wagner erase the deficit, combining for 11 of the next 12 points as part of a 12-2 run to tie the game at 30-30 with 2:59 to play in the first half.
After the Terriers took a 36-33 lead into the halftime locker room, the contest remained a two-possession game until the final minute of play.
Morales scored the first eight Wagner points of the second half, but an 8-0 St. Francis run made it 52-47 in favor of the Terriers with 12:47 to play.
The Seahawks answered, as a three-pointer by freshman
Elijah Allen gave Wagner a 57-55 lead with 9:09 to play.
Leading 67-65 with two minutes to play, baskets by Hunt, Ford, and a pair of free throws by Morales as part of a 6-2 run put the game away, helping the Seahawks earn their first road victory of the season.
The Seahawks dominated on the glass, holding a 40-31 advantage in rebounds while outscoring the Terriers 44-32 in the paint and holding a 20-14 advantage in second chance points.
For Morales, it was his third 20-point performance in the last four games, shooting 9-15 from the field.
Wagner and St. Francis Brooklyn meet again tomorrow afternoon, with tip-off scheduled for 4 pm.
