Hackensack, NJ – Despite trailing by 11 points just six minutes into the game, the Wagner College men's basketball team stormed back to earn a thrilling 83-79 victory over Fairleigh Dickinson on Saturday afternoon.
With the win, Wagner improves to 5-5 in Northeast Conference (NEC) play and 12-9 overall, while the Knights fall to 7-3 in NEC action and 14-11 overall.
The Seahawks were led by senior
Brandon Brown, sophomore
Javier Ezquerra, and freshman
Julian Brown, who scored 12 points apiece.
The Knights, who converted on 15 threes throughout the contest, jumped out to an early 20-9 lead six minutes into the game.
The Seahawks cut the deficit to 46-42 at the half, tied the contest at 63-63 on a
Jahbril Price-Noel three with 10:52 to play, and took their first lead of the contest on a bucket by Ezquerra with 4:52 to play, which gave Wagner a 74-73 advantage.
After the Knights regained the lead at 79-78 on a three by Demetre Roberts with 52 seconds to play,
Brandon Brown stepped up with a clutch traditional three-point play to give the Seahawks an 81-79 advantage with 39 seconds to play.
Following a timeout, Wagner forced an FDU miss on the defensive end, before a pair of
Rahmir Moore free throws sealed the game and gave the Seahawks the road win.
The 83 points mark the most by the Seahawks against a Division I opponent this year, as the Green and White converted on 30-53 shots (56.6%) from the field throughout the contest.
Wagner held a 33-18 advantage on the glass, including a 9-1 edge in offensive rebounds. Both teams had 22 assists apiece, while Wagner held a 34-18 advantage in points in the paint and 43-11 edge in bench points.
Next up, the Seahawks will travel to St. Francis Brooklyn on Thursday, February 9, with tip-off set for 2:00 pm on NECFrontRow.
