Staten Island, NY – The Wagner College men's basketball team earned a tightly contested 74-67 victory over Merrimack on Tuesday night and can claim a Northeast Conference (NEC) regular season title with a win over the Warriors tomorrow.
Seniors
Alex Morales and
Will Martinez led the Seahawks with 21 points apiece, which included the game-deciding points in the final minutes of the game, while fellow senior
Elijah Ford contributed 14 points in the victory.
With the win, Wagner improves to 12-5 in Northeast Conference (NEC) play. The Seahawks are guaranteed a home contest in the NEC semifinals on Saturday.
Tonight's contest featured seven lead changes, four ties, and a combined 74 points in the paint, as the visitors overcame multiple double digit leads throughout the game.
In the first half, a 17-6 Wagner run, capped by a Martinez jumper, gave the Seahawks a 28-17 with 10:10 to play. The Warriors answered, cutting their deficit to 44-43 with one minute to play in the first half, but a layup by freshman
DeLonnie Hunt with 14 seconds to play gave Wagner a 46-43 lead at the half.
The Seahawks scored the first five points of the second half, as a Hunt jumper made it 53-43 with 18:27 to play, but Merrimack answered and took a 58-56 lead with 12:47 to play on a jumper by Malik Edmead.
Both teams went back and forth until Wagner's seniors decided the game in the final two minutes. Trailing 67-66, Martinez gave the Seahawks a one-point lead on a layup with 2:06 to play.
On the ensuing offensive possession, Morales connected on the jumper, giving him his ninth 20-point game of the season, while putting the Seahawks up 70-67 with 1:09 to play.
From there, Martinez and Ford connected on all of their free throws, giving the Seahawks the victory.
Wagner outscored Merrimack 40-34 in the paint, while out-rebounding the Warriors 30-21 on the night.
Both teams will meet again tomorrow at 4:00 pm for the final regular season game in the Northeast Conference.
With a victory, Wagner will host Mount St. Mary's as the regular season champion on Saturday.
Wagner Basketball Virtual Sellout
To all of our Seahawk alumni, family, and friends who are missing game days at Wagner, we know that you would all rather be cheering on our basketball teams at the Spiro Sports Center. Tomorrow as the men's program attempts to take home the regular-season championship, you can help us virtually sell out the Spiro Sports Center!
For more information
click here
