WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. ? Wagner improved to 4-0 in Northeast Conference play for the first time in program history, as the Seahawks handed Monmouth a 77-62 loss on Thursday night, in Boylan Gym.
Monmouth, which is now 1-5 at home, falls to 4-12 on the season, and 1-3 in the NEC. Wagner, which recorded 11 wins all of last season, improves to 11-4 and 4-0 in league play.
In a first half that featured six ties and 15 lead changes, Wagner held the largest lead of the stanza, 27-20, with 5:10 remaining when the Seahawks rattled off a 10-0 run. Monmouth had led 20-17 with 8:18 left when Alex Nunner drained a corner three-pointer.
The Hawks chipped into the Seahawk advantage, trimming the lead to 27-26 with 2:39 showing after two James Hett free throws, a Nick DelTufo layup and Jhamar Youngblood's jumper.
After Durrell Vinson's post move gave Wagner a 29-26 lead, Youngblood connected on four straight free throws to reclaim the lead for Monmouth with 1:35 left. Youngblood then dropped in a finger roll basket with two seconds remaining to give the Hawks a 34-33 edge at the intermission.
Monmouth pushed the edge to 38-35 at 17:51 when Nunner drained his second trey, but Wagner responded with 21-6 run, which included four trifectas, to claim a 56-44 edge with 9:23 left.
Wagner held a 59-47 cushion with 6:23 remaining, before the Hawks trimmed the lead to 64-56 with 3:45 showing as Whitney Coleman dropped in a layup. The Hawks, who went nearly 10 minutes between field goals in the second half, pulled within 64-59 with 2:52 left, as Nunner connected on a trifecta.
The Seahawks, who were 16-of-27 from the foul line for the game, hit 13 free throws in the final 2:37, held on for a 77-62 win.
Monmouth was paced by Youngblood, who netted 25 points, his seventh 20-point scoring outing during his career. Nunner added 11 points, while Coleman recorded six points and seven rebounds. The Hawks, who hit 43.5% from the field in the first half, hit just 22.2% in the second stanza.
Five Seahawks scored in double-digits, led by Vinson's 18 points and eight rebounds. Mark Porter added 16 points, while James Ulrich chipped in 14 points and eight caroms.
Monmouth returns to action on Saturday, January 12, when the Hawks host Quinnipiac in NEC action at 7 p.m., in Boylan Gym, on Alumni Day.
