WATCH | Live Stats | Game Notes
Staten Island, NY – The Wagner College men's basketball team will travel to Big East member Providence on Tuesday in a nationally televised contest at 7:00 pm on FS1.
Last Time Out
Wagner earned a 64-51 victory against NJIT on Saturday. The Seahawks led by as much as 11 in the opening 20 minutes, with junior
Melvin Council Jr. leading the way with 13 first half points. But the Highlanders closed the gap in the final six minutes, forging together a 12-3 run to make it a 31-29 game at the intermission.
Wagner grew its lead in the second half, allowing just five made field goals, as the Highlanders shot 25% (5-20) from the field in the second period.
Kelton And Council Lead The Way
Former junior college teammates
Melvin Council Jr. and
Tyje Kelton continue to impress. Council is Wagner's leading scorer at 13.2 points per game, including a game-high 18 points against NJIT. Against the Highlanders, Council added five rebounds and two assists, earning Northeast Conference (NEC) Prime Performer honors. Council has scored 13 or more points in three of five games this season.
Kelton is Wagner's leading rebounder at six caroms a game while averaging 9.6 points per game. A consistent threat on both ends of the floor, Kelton has scored at least nine points and recorded at least one block against all four Division I opponents this year.
Ezquerra Stuffs The Stat Sheet
Junior
Javier Ezquerra has recorded nine steals in Wagner's last two games along with 12 assists in his last three games. Against NJIT, Ezquerra was second on the team with 12 points, his second double-digit performance of the season.
Getting To The Line
Wagner attempted a season-high 26 free throws against NJIT. Wagner is 2-0 this season when attempting 20 or more free throws in a game.
Dominating The Glass
The Seahawks are averaging 36.8 rebounds per contest, up from 35.9 boards a season ago.
The Seahawks held a 44-39 edge on the glass against Fordham, tied for the most rebounds against a Division I opponent in the last two seasons. Wagner's five blocks against the Rams were also the most rejections against a Division I opponent since recording seven rejections against Mount St. Mary's in 2022.
Scouting The Friars
Providence enters Tuesday's game with a 5-1 record, earning victories over Columbia, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Georgia, and Lehigh. The Friars' lone loss of the season came against Kansas State in the Baha Mar Hoops Bahamas Championship.
The Series
Tuesday's game marks the fifth all-time meeting between the Friars and Seahawks and first since 2016, with Providence winning all four prior games.
This also marks Wagner's second game against a Big East opponent this season after facing off against Seton Hall earlier this month.
No stranger to big victories in November, the Seahawks will look for another upset victory after earning a 76-73 overtime victory over Temple in last year's season opener and a 58-44 victory at VCU two seasons ago.
The 2016 lid-lifter remains one of the most memorable games in Wagner history, as the Seahawks knocked off No. 18 UConn 67-58.
Next Up
Wagner will continue its road trip with a matchup at Stony Brook on Saturday, December 2, with tip-off scheduled for 3:30 pm.
