Wagner defeats Manor College 74-57
Wagner Edges Out Manor College in Home Opener
The Wagner Seahawks welcomed their home crowd to the Spiro Sports Center on Tuesday evening, looking to make a statement in their non-conference opener against visiting Manor College. The Seahawks ultimately emerged victorious, 74-57, behind a balanced team effort.
In the first half, Wagner set the tone, leading 36-18 at halftime. The Seahawks' defense was stifling, holding Manor College to just 18 points on 39% shooting from the field. Meanwhile, Wagner's offense found its rhythm, scoring 38 points on 30% of their shots from the field.
After intermission, Manor College attempted to mount a comeback, but Wagner's depth and resilience proved too much to overcome. The Seahawks extended their lead to 20 points midway through the second half, and while Manor College managed to trim the deficit to 17 points with just over five minutes remaining, it was too little, too late.
For Wagner, senior forward Bineal Basil led the charge, grabbing nine rebounds and scoring six points to complement his five assists. John Awoke chipped in with eight points and five assists of his own, while Nick Jones added 13 points on 41.7% shooting from three-point range.
Manor College's Manny Roach was the lone bright spot for the visitors, scoring a game-high 28 points on 52.4% shooting from the field. However, his efforts were ultimately not enough to overcome the Seahawks' strong team performance.
The win marks Wagner's first home opener victory under new head coach [insert coach name], and it sets the tone for what promises to be an exciting season in the Northeast Conference.
Box Score
* Wagner: 74
* Manor College: 57
Game Stats:
* Field Goals: Wagner (30/68), Manor College (23/59)
* 2-Point FG: Wagner (28/44), Manor College (15/33)
* 3-Point FG: Wagner (2/24), Manor College (8/26)
* Free Throws: Wagner (12/13), Manor College (3/4)
* Rebounds: Wagner (42), Manor College (33)
Game Leaders
Wagner:
* Nick Jones - 13 points, 1-5 3PT
* Bineal Basil - 9 rebounds, 6 points, 5 assists
Manor College:
* Manny Roach - 28 points, 6-13 3PT
* Tyray Cooper - 8 rebounds, 14 points, 3 assists