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Staten Island, NY - The Wagner College men's basketball team will face-off against the Manhattan Jaspers on Wednesday, December 18 at the Spiro Sports Center. Tip-off is set for 7:00 pm.

Seahawks Find Their Groove

Wagner has emerged victorious in all three of its last games after defeating Coppin State by a score of 65 to 52 on Grymes Hill back on December 4. The Seahawks then took down Maryland Eastern Shore, 63-61, and NJIT, 50-43, to improve their record to 6-4. Over the last three games, graduate student Ja'Kair Sanchez is averaging 15.3 points per game with 22 points against Coppin State and 15 against NJIT. RJ Greene led the Green & White against UMES with 18 points, and is averaging just over 10 free throw attempts during the win streak. Defense is the key, as Wagner has given up an average of only 52 points to opponents throughout its last three games.

Wagner DNA

The Seahawks are fourth in the nation in scoring defense, allowing an average of 57.3 points per game. The Highlanders shot 4-22 from beyond-the-arc on Saturday, holding NJIT to a season-low 43 points. In the last 12 seasons, no Northeast Conference (NEC) team has allowed less than 43 points since the Green & White did against Princeton back on November 18, 2012. 43 points is also the 19th fewest points allowed in a game by an NEC team against another Division I opponent. 

Sanchez Steps Up

Graduate student Ja'Kair Sanchez has led the Seahawks in two out of their last three games, starting all three. The Syracuse native has been named an NEC Prime Performer the last two weeks for his showings during the Green & White's winning-streak. Sanchez added 22 against Coppin State and 15 against NJIT. At 9.1 points per game, Sanchez is tied with senior Javier Ezquerra to lead Wagner in the category. Sanchez adds 2.5 rebounds a game as well and sees roughly 20 minutes of action.

Greene Means Go

Junior R.J. Greene scored a team-high 18 points against UMES after adding 14 points against Coppin State. Greene currently has the second-highest usage rate in the nation at 37.0 percent and ranks sixth nationally with 7.9 fouls drawn per 40 minutes, according to the NEC.

The Series

Wednesday's matchup marks the fourth all-time meeting between the two programs. Wagner defeated Manhattan in Riverdale last season by a score of 68-56 when Ezquerra showed his all-around game with 15 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists. The Jaspers earned the first two wins against the Seahawks during the 2006-07 and 2007-08 seasons.

Scouting The Jaspers

Manhattan comes into this game with a 4-5 overall record and a 1-1 record in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play. Most recently, the Jaspers fell to conference foe Marist, 82-75 at Draddy Gymnasium. Freshman forward Will Syndor leads Manhattan scoring 15 points per game. Senior Shaquil Bender adds 12.1 points per game while sophomore guard Jaden Winston chips in 10.2 points per game with 4.3 assists.

Next Up

Wagner will continue its home stand with a matchup against Penn State Fayette on December 21 at the Spiro Sports Center. Tip-off is set for 2:30 pm immediately after the women's basketball game against Columbia.