The Fairleigh Dickinson University men's basketball team staged a second-half comeback, but it was thwarted by Wagner, which squeaked out a 71-67 victory at Stratis Arena on Sunday evening. The Seahawks improve to 14-5 overall, including a 7-1 mark in Northeast Conference action, while the Knights fall to 6-12, with a 2-6 record in league play.
The Knights fell despite four players scoring in double-digits and a double-double by senior forward Eric Hazard (Long Branch, NJ/St. Benedict's) (West Long Branch, NJ). Sophomore guard Sean Baptiste (North Brunswick, NJ/St. Josephs of Metuchen) (North Brunswick, NJ) led Fairleigh Dickinson with 23 points. Senior guard Bernell Murray (Stillwater, OK/Stillwater) (Stillwater, OK) added 13 points. Hazard finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds, while senior guard Manny Ubilla (Freehold, NJ/Freehold) (Freehold, NJ) nearly reached a double-double with 13 points and eight assists.
Wagner jumped out to a 12-3 lead early in the game with James Ulrich (Mt. Laurel, NJ) giving them four points. Baptiste scored the first nine points for the Knights. The Seahawks took their first double-digit lead of the game, 17-7, at the 6:49 mark on jumper by Jamal Smith (Baltimore, MD).
After a jumper by Ubilla made it 21-13, Wagner scored back-to-back baskets to stretch its lead to 12.
Baptiste connected on a long three and the free throw after, 25-17, but Wagner out-scored the Knights, 9-2 in the final three minutes.
Durell Vinson (Vineland, NJ) recorded a double-double in the first 20 minutes, entering the break with 10 points and 13 rebounds. Baptiste led the Knights in the first frame, recording 13 of FDU's 19 points. Hazard pulled down six rebounds to lead the Knights on the boards. FDU connected on only six field goals, shooting 19 percent in the first period, while the Seahawks shot 43 percent.
After Wagner was able to take a 16-point lead three minutes into the second half, the Knights staged a 14-5 run to climb back into the game. Hazard swished a three and Murray fed Baptiste, who connected on a basket, 43-36, with 13 minutes remaining in the second half.
Murray stole the ball, dishing out a behind-the-back pass to Ubilla for the lay-up and after a rebound on the other end, Baptiste netted a trey to bring the Knights within six, 47-41.
Hazard sank another three with 10 minutes on the clock to make it a five-point gap, 49-44.
Mark Porter (Atlantic City, NJ) hit a three to reclaim the Seahawks' double-digit lead, 54-44, with just under eight minutes remaining in the game, but a pair from the line by Baptiste followed by a jumper from Murray brought it back down to a six-point Wagner advantage with six and a half minutes left to play.
Ubilla found Murray at the top of the arc, and he was able to drill the trey. After forcing the Seahawks out of bounds, Ubilla then found Hazard wide open for another three-pointer to trim Wagner's lead to four points, 64-60, with 2:16 on the clock. Sophomore forward Brian Lytle (Union, NJ/St. Marks) (Union, NJ) connected on the first of two free throws to cut the lead even further.
Baptiste netted a reverse lay-up, 63-66, with 1:10 on the board. A foul put Porter on the line with 53 seconds and he connected on the front end of a one-and-one, but Ubilla sank both of his throws from the charity stripe to make it a thrilling two-point game (67-65).
FDU had a three-point attempt rattle around the rim and fall out and Wagner grabbed the rebound. Porter sank two more form the line, but Ubilla connected on a pull-up jumper with 6.3 seconds remaining to make it 69-67.
Porter again found himself on the line with 5.7 seconds left to play, making both to make the final score 71-67.
“I just told the guys in the locker room that if we had played as hard in the first half-- with the same amount of enthusiasm, intensity and hard work, I thought it would have been a different outcome,” said Head Coach Tom Green.
“We just had a long shooting night. If we had shot better, it also could have been a different outcome. You have to credit Wagner with its defense- they played very good half-court defense and we had to earn everything we got. They are a very balanced team.”
Vinson finished with 18 points and 20 rebounds, while Porter added 19. Smith and Ulrich each had 10.
The Knights are back in action when they host Sacred Heart on Jan. 31 at 7:00 p.m.
