STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — The Wagner College men's basketball team continues NEC play at home on Thursday, Jan. 29, hosting CCSU for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off inside the Spiro Sports Center. The game will be streamed live on NEC Front Row with Joey Wahler and Ryan Peters on the call.

Thursday's contest marks the 63rd all-time meeting between the programs, with Wagner holding a 37–25 advantage in the series. The teams split last season's meetings, 1–1.

CCSU (10–9, 4–4 NEC) enters the matchup following a narrow 61–59 road loss at Stonehill. The Blue Devils are led by fifth-year head coach Patrick Sellers and were picked to finish first in the NEC Preseason Coaches' Poll after capturing the regular-season championship in each of the past two seasons. CCSU leads the NEC in scoring (76.3 ppg) and three-point percentage (38.6%). Sophomore forward Darin Smith Jr. tops the league in scoring at 20.2 points per game. Last season, CCSU earned the No. 1 seed in the NEC Tournament before falling to Saint Francis, 46–43, in the championship game.

Wagner (6–12, 1–6 NEC) comes in off a hard-fought 69–67 road loss at Le Moyne. Junior Nick Jones paced the Seahawks with 13 points, adding five rebounds, three assists, and three steals. Junior Eddie Placer provided a spark off the bench with 12 points, knocking down all four of his three-point attempts. Graduate student Travis Gray finished with 11 points and three triples, while junior Bryan Akanmu recorded his first double-double of the season with 10 points and a season-high 12 rebounds.

The Seahawks shot 49.1 percent from the field and 42.1 percent from beyond the arc but were limited to 7-of-12 shooting at the free-throw line. Le Moyne capitalized at the stripe, converting 24-of-34 attempts, and held a slim 35–34 rebounding edge, including 15 offensive rebounds.

Wagner currently ranks second in the NEC in rebounds per game (37.9) while also sitting fourth in scoring (73.6 ppg) and fifth in assists per game (13.9). Jones leads the team in scoring at 14.9 points per game, ranking seventh in the league, and is tied for second in steals (1.7). Redshirt senior Jaden Baker ranks tied for third in the NEC in assists, averaging 3.9 per game.

Following Thursday's matchup, the Green & White will continue their three-game homestand on Saturday, Jan. 31, hosting FDU at 1 p.m. inside the Spiro Sports Center.