HACKENSACK, N.J. — The Wagner College men's basketball team continues NEC play on the road Monday, Jan. 19, traveling to face FDU. Tip-off is set for 2:00 p.m. inside the Bogota Savings Bank Center, with live coverage on YES Network, ESPN+, and NESN Nation. Dave Popkin and Rob Krimmel will have the call.
Monday's contest marks the 124th all-time meeting between the programs, a series that dates back to 1955. FDU holds a slim 62–61 advantage after sweeping the season series last year. The road team has won four of the last five meetings.
FDU (5–13, 2–3 NEC) enters the game following a 66–59 home loss to LIU. Head coach Jack Castleberry is in his third season at the helm. The Knights rank sixth in the NEC in scoring (68.6 ppg) and third in rebounding (36.7 rpg). Senior guard Eric Parnell leads the team with 11.9 points per game, while senior forward Taeshaud Johnson paces the Knights on the glass with 8.3 rebounds per contest. Picked fifth in the NEC Preseason Coaches Poll, FDU earned the No. 4 seed in last season's NEC Tournament before falling to top-seeded CCSU, 76–72, in overtime.
Wagner (6–10, 1–4 NEC) comes into Monday's matchup after an 80–74 road loss at New Haven. Junior
Nick Jones led the Seahawks with a team-high 20 points off the bench, marking his second consecutive 20-point performance. Redshirt senior
Jaden Baker added 18 points, tying a career high with five three-pointers on six attempts. Junior
Michael Cooper chipped in 10 points and six rebounds, while junior
John Awoke knocked down three triples en route to nine points. Wagner shot 52.7 percent from the field and 47.8 percent from beyond the arc.
The Seahawks outrebounded New Haven, 33–19, but the Chargers held the edge at the free-throw line (13-of-14 to Wagner's 5-of-7) and capitalized on turnovers, forcing 17 giveaways while committing just nine of their own. New Haven also connected on 15-of-28 attempts from three-point range.
Wagner currently leads the NEC in rebounding at 39.2 boards per game. Sophomore
Zavier Fitch leads the team with 6.8 rebounds per contest, ranking sixth in the conference. The Seahawks are also tied for second in the league in scoring (74.8 ppg) and rank third in assists per game (14.4).
Jones paces the Green & White with 14.6 points per game, ranking seventh in the NEC, while Baker ranks tied for third in the league with 3.9 assists per game.
Following Monday's contest, Wagner will continue its four-game NEC road swing Friday, Jan. 23, at Le Moyne, with a 7:00 p.m. tip-off in Syracuse, N.Y.
