WATCH | Live Stats | Game Notes

Staten Island, NY - The Wagner College men's basketball team will compete against the Penn State Fayette Nittany Lions on Saturday, December 21 at the Spiro Sports Center. Tip-off is set for 2:30 pm.

Ja'Kair Is Here

Graduate student wing Ja'Kair Sanchez has led the Seahawks in scoring three out of the last four games. After scoring 22 points against Coppin State, the Syracuse native added 15 and 16 points against NJIT and Manhattan, respectively. Sanchez has been tabbed as an NEC Prime Performer for the past two weeks. Until recently, the transfer from Robert Wesleyan provided a boost off of Donald Copeland's bench before making his first start against the Coppin State. 

As Reliable As They Come

Senior guard Javier Ezquerra plays the most minutes per game in the conference at 35.7 minutes, playing the entirety of the game against UMES and NJIT in back-to-back wins. The San Juan, Puerto Rico native has dished out at least six assists in both of the Seahawks last two games, and has grabbed a minimum of four rebounds in all four of Wagner's last four contests. Ezquerra is second on the team in points per game with 8.5, trailing only Sanchez who scores 9.7 per game. 

Wagner DNA

The Seahawks allow the ninth fewest points per game nationally at 59.4. Wagner is first in scoring defense among the NEC as well. NJIT's 43 points against Wagner was the fewest total points allowed by Wagner since 2012 when the Green & White gave up 42 to Princeton. The Green & White rank in the top 30% in forced turnovers per game with 13.82.

Seahawks Among The NEC

The Seahawks prevent their opponents from getting the most rebounds per game, allowing a conference-low 32.3 per game. Wagner's rebounding margin is top of the circuit, as well as the only NEC team to out-rebound its opponents by a margin larger than one (2.5). Junior forward R.J. Greene and senior forward Tyje Kelton are sixth and eighth respectively in rebounds per game in the NEC. Greene grabs 5.3 rebounds per game while Kelton is responsible for 4.9. Kelton is also third in the circuit in three-pointers per game with 1.8. Ezquerra finds himself seventh in the same category, nailing 1.4 threes per contest. 

Scouting The Nittany Lions

Penn State Fayette comes into the game at 3-8 led by fifth-year guard Dasilas Jones. Jones averages 22.8 points per game. Third-year guard Jesse Lawson Jr. adds 15.8 points per contest. 

Next Up

Wagner will continue its home stand with a matchup against Penn State Scranton on Monday, December 23. Tip-off is set for noon.