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Staten Island, NY - The Wagner College men's basketball team returns home to the Spiro Sports Center on Thursday, January 6, as the Seahawks host the Bryant Bulldogs at 7:00 pm. The Northeast Conference (NEC) announced on Wednesday that the game will now air on SNY, ESPN3, and NECFrontRow.
 
Last Time Out 
 
Wagner overcame a double-digit deficit in the first half to earn a 72-64 victory over Saint Francis U in the Northeast Conference (NEC) opener for both teams last Wednesday. 
 
The Seahawks trailed 20-10 with 12:35 to play in the first half, but used an 11-2 run during the last 3:06 of the first half to take a 31-30 lead on a three by graduate student Elijah Ford with time expiring in the period.
 
Coming out of the locker room, Wagner went on a 16-3 run to quickly take a 48-35 lead on a layup by graduate student Alex Morales with 13:29 to play. Graduate student Will Martinez proved to be the catalyst during early in the second half, scoring eight points in the first eight minutes of the second half in helping the Seahawks build their lead.
 
Winning Ways 
 
Wagner has now won four straight games and is looking to build on its early season success. During the winning streak, the Seahawks are winning by an average of 30.25 points. 
 
Seahawks Soar In The Rankings
 
Wagner is ranked 44^th nationally in the NCAA's NET Rankings, which leads all teams in New York State and is first among all NEC schools. 
 
The Seahawks also rank 117^th in the KenPom rankings, over 100 spots ahead of the second-best NEC school, Bryant.
 
Successful Non-Conference Slate 
 
Wagner concluded its non-conference season with a 6-2 record.
 
The Seahawks, who posted double-digit road wins at VCU, Stony Brook and Fairfield, and fell only at Seton Hall and Penn St., tied Monmouth for the fifth-highest win percentage in NEC history.
 
Wagner has accounted for three of the top-five non-conference campaigns in NEC annals, highlighted by a 9-2 mark in 2011-12.
 
Sharp Shooters
 
As a team, Wagner is converting on 48.4% of field goal attempts, which leads the Northeast Conference and is good for 24th in the country.
 
Program DNA
 
Through nine games, the Seahawks are playing true to their program DNA. Wagner ranks first in the NEC in field goal percentage defense at 39%, which ranks 41^st nationally, and rebounding margin at 8.6, which ranks 19th in the nation. The Seahawks are also first in the conference in scoring defense at 58 points per game, which is good for 10th nationally.
 
Calm At The Line
 
As a team, the Seahawks' free throw percentage of 77.1%  is not only first in the Northeast Conference, but also good for 28^th in the nation.
 
Scouting The Bulldogs
 
Thursday's matchup features the top two teams from the Northeast Conference (NEC) preseason coaches poll, as Wagner was picked to finish ahead of Bryant prior to the season. 
 
The Bulldogs enter the week with a 6-7 overall record and 2-0 mark in conference play. Bryant opened NEC play with victories over CCSU and Sacred Heart last week.
 
The Series
 
Thursday's game will mark the 23^rd all-time meeting between the two teams, with the series knotted up at 11 apiece. The last Wagner victory over the Bulldogs came on February 18, 2018, a 96-76 victory at the Spiro Sports Center. 
 
Mason's Milestone Victory
 
The victory over Fairfield marked the 150^th win of head coach Bashir Mason's coaching career. Mason is already Wagner's winningest coach in the Division I era and reached the milestone in 276 games, winning more than 54% of his games
 
Mason was named to the Athletic's "40 Under 40 – Rising Stars In Men's College Basketball" list.
 
According to the article, which features Mason at #15, Mason "has established himself as one of the top mid-major coaches in America."
 
Last season, Mason entered elite territory, becoming just the second coach in the conference's 40-year history to win three Jim Phelan Coach of the Year honors, joining NEC Hall of Fame coach Howie Dickenman, who earned the distinction four times in his storied career at CCSU.
 
Following the 2020-21 season, Mason was also a finalist for the 2020-21 Hugh Durham Award, which is presented annually to the top Division I mid-major coach in college basketball. 
 
Wagner's head coach was also a finalist for the Ben Jobe award, which is presented annually to the top Division I minority coach.
 
Mason was the youngest head coach at the Division I level when he was named the 18th head men's basketball coach in school history on March 26, 2012 and is the fastest coach to win 100 games in Seahawk history.
 
The Schedule 
 
Wagner will continue its homestand on Saturday, January 8, with a 1:00 pm contest against Sacred Heart.