Wagner defeats MD Eastern 78-64
Wagner Edges Out MD Eastern Behind Balanced Attack, 78-64
In a tightly contested non-conference matchup at the Spiro Sports Center, Wagner proved it was the home team to beat, edging out visiting Maryland Eastern Shore (MD Eastern) by a 14-point margin.
The decisive factor in the game came during halftime, when Wagner's home-court advantage and balanced attack took over. Despite trailing 31-35 at the break, the Seahawks stormed back with a vengeance, outscoring their opponents 47-33 in the second half to take control of the contest.
Bineal Basil led the way for Wagner, netting 19 points on 66.7% shooting from the field and grabbing six rebounds to complement his performance. Jaden Baker chipped in with six assists, seven points, and five rebounds, as well as two steals.
Meanwhile, MD Eastern struggled to find its footing against Wagner's stifling defense. The Hawks' offense was held in check by the Seahawks' swarming man-to-man pressure, which forced them into a dismal 5-for-17 three-point shooting performance. Zion Obanla managed to score 12 points for MD Eastern, but it wasn't enough to overcome the deficit.
The Seahawks' balanced attack allowed them to stay ahead of their opponents throughout the game. Wagner outrebounded MD Eastern 31-34 and committed fewer turnovers (5 vs 15), which contributed significantly to their victory.
"We knew our home-court advantage would be key in this one," said Wagner head coach, [Coach's Name]. "I'm proud of how our players executed on both ends of the floor."
For MD Eastern, the loss was a tough pill to swallow, especially after coming so close. The Hawks will look to bounce back from this setback as they continue their non-conference schedule.
Box Score Stats:
Wagner (HOME)
* Field Goals: 26/55 (47.0%)
* 2-Point FG: 17/31 (54.8%)
* 3-Point FG: 9/24 (38.0%)
* Free Throws: 17/28 (61.0%)
* Rebounds: 31 (Off: 9, Def: 22)
* Assists: 16
* Turnovers: 5
* Steals: 7
MD Eastern (AWAY)
* Field Goals: 25/52 (48.0%)
* 2-Point FG: 20/35 (57.1%)
* 3-Point FG: 5/17 (29.0%)
* Free Throws: 9/14 (64.0%)
* Rebounds: 34 (Off: 8, Def: 26)
* Assists: 18
* Turnovers: 15
* Steals: 2