Loretto, PA - The Wagner College men's basketball team fell to the Saint Francis (PA) Red Flash by a score of 58-55 in the Northeast Conference (NEC) Tournament quarterfinal round in DeGol Arena on Wednesday night.

In the third meeting between these two teams, the lead changed hands eight different times and was tied twice. 

The score read 16-14, advantage SFU, at the under eight media timeout. SFU built a seven-point lead with a little over five minutes in the first half, 21-14. The Seahawks would respond with their own run to eventually tie the game at 23 with around two minutes left in the period. 

At the intermission, the Red Flash led 28-25

All-Conference Third Team member senior Zaire Williams spearheaded the Green & White's first half offense, scoring 13 points on 5-10 from the floor with three rebounds and two assists. 

As a team, the Seahawks outscored the Red Flash in points in the paint, 12-8, in the first half.

SFU would find itself leading by 12 with 7:40 remaining in the game, leading 47-35 after the conference's Rookie of the Year freshman Juan Crawford Jr. hit a three-point field goal.

Over the next seven minutes, the Seahawks would go on a 16-5 run to come within one point with 51 seconds remaining.

With 12 seconds left, All-Conference Third Team and All-Defensive Team member Zaire Williams stole the ball from Crawford in the backcourt, and then found backcourt mate and fellow NEC All-Defensive Team member senior Javier Ezquerra for the left-handed layup to tie the contest at 55.

With two seconds left remaining in the game, junior Riley Parker hit three consecutive free throws to put SFU up by a score of 58-55. 

A last chance half-court attempt from Williams missed to the left as Wagner's 2024-25 season would come to an end in the quarterfinal round of the NEC Tournament.

Williams finished with a team-high 16 points to go along with six rebounds, two assists, and two steals. 

Graduate student Ja'Kair Sanchez scored 14 points and grabbed five rebounds while Ezquerra added nine points with four rebounds, five assists, and two steals. Freshman Zavier Fitch chipped in six points and a team-high eight rebounds.

The Seahawks outscored the Red Flash 26-18 in points in the paint, 18-11 in points off turnovers, and 20-9 in second chance points.

Wagner concludes its 2024-25 season with a 14-16 overall record and an NEC record of 6-10.