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South Orange, NJ – For the second consecutive game, the Wagner men’s basketball team battled a Big East team on near-equal terms as Seton Hall pulled away late for a 69-59 victory over the Seahawks at Walsh Gymnasium this afternoon.
Less than 48 hours after dropping a 66-57 decision at St. John’s on Friday night, the Green & White fell to 0-2 on the young season while the Hall improved to 2-0.
Wagner did not go down without a fight in this one, clawing back back from a 16-point second half deficit to make it a seven-point game with 90 seconds to play before losing by 10.
The Pirates appeared to be on the verge of pulling away when a Derrick Gordon jumper with 9:26 left to play gave Seton Hall a 53-37 lead. Wagner then outscored the Hall 19-10 over the next eight minutes and when redshirt-senior guard Dwaun Anderson (Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa & Chippewa Indians) hit a driving layup at the 1:37 mark, the scrappy, tenacious Seahawks were within seven at 63-56. Ismael Sanago then hit two free throws for the Hall to make it a nine-point game and the Pirates were able to hold from there.
“After not playing well in the first half, I think in the second half we responded with our effort, and our energy, and we showed that toughness, which is our staple,” said fourth-year head coach Bashir Mason. “The Wagner basketball that wan’t present last year is certainly back – that tough, gritty, defensive-minded team. Now we have to improve our offensive execution and I think we’ll be in pretty good shape. But it’s imperative that we not lose what is our staple – defense and rebounding.”
For the second straight game, the Seahawks were led in scoring by sophomore guard Corey Henson (Upper Marlboro, MD/DeMatha Catholic), who followed his 16-point outing vs. St. John’s with a 17-pont effort this afternoon. The athletic 6-3 Henson shot 7-of-15 from the floor, including 3-of-7 from three-point range, while dishing out two assists, grabbing four rebounds and coming up with three steals in a spirited 33-minute stint.
Anderson also recorded his second consecutive double-digit scoring game. After going for 11 points and a career-high 13 rebounds vs. the Johnnies, the 6-4, high-flying lefthander added another 11 today on 5-of-11 shooting, to go with two rebounds, steals and one assist in 28 minutes of action. Sophomore 6-7 forward Japhet Kadji (Douala, Cameroon/Gulliver Prep [IMG Academy]) fresh off of a career-high 14-point outing at St. John’s, added eight points .
Also recording eight points for the Seahawks was fifth-year senior Henry Brooks (New Orleans, LA/Miller Grove), a 6-8 transfer from the University of Pennsylvania, who was 4-of-7 from the floor, while adding three rebounds and two steals in 22 minutes before fouling out.
Late in the first half, Wagner was within striking distance, trailing by just a 33-26 count, before the Pirates closed the half on a 9-0 run, capped by a Desi Rodriguez three-pointer that narrowly beat the buzzer, sending the home team into the intermission with a 42-26 lead.
Despite competing against a bigger, stronger Big East team, the Seahawks again more than held their own on the glass. After out-rebounding St. John’s 42-38 on Friday, both teams wound up with 37 rebounds this afternoon.
Seton Hall placed three players in double figures, led by 6-4 sophomore guard and Second-Team All-Big East Preseason choice Isaiah Whitehead, who tallied a game-high 18 points. Rodriguez and Angel Delgado finished with 15 and 10 points, respectively.
Wagner held the advantage in second-chance points (10-7), fast-break points (15-4) and in bench scoring (23-11).
The Seahawks are next in action on Saturday, November 21 when they play host to Maine in the home opener. Tip-off at the Spiro Sports Center is set for 2:00 p.m.
