Francis helps Wagner fend off Fairfield 78-76
NEW YORK -- Blake Francis scored 19 points and hit two free throws with three seconds left in the game to help Wagner hold off Fairfield 78-76 on Friday night.
JoJo Cooper added 16 points and eight assists for the Seahawks (5-1), who earned their fourth straight victory and continued their best start under sixth-year coach Bashir Mason. Nigel Jackson scored 14 and A.J. Sumbry snared 10 rebounds as Wagner won the battle of the boards 38-30.
Tyler Nelson topped the Stags (3-4) with 22 points, but he made just 7 of 23 shots from the floor, including 1 of 9 from 3-point range. Kevin Senghore-Peterson scored 17, Ferron Flavors Jr. hit four 3s and scored 14 and Omar El-Sheikh totaled 11 points and nine rebounds.
Fairfield trailed by four at halftime and took its first lead -- since the midway point of the first half -- 62-61 on two Jesus Cruz free throws with 8:47 left to play. Flavor's 3-pointer with 5:09 left stretched the Stags' lead to 70-66. Fairfield's lead lasted until Elijah Davis and Francis hit back-to-back 3s to put the Seahawks up 76-71 with 1:39 remaining.
Game Information
- Referees:
- Ron Tyburski
- Brandon Cruz
- Greg Evans
2024-25 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Standings
| Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quinnipiac | 7-1 | - | 11-8 |
| Marist | 6-1 | 0.5 | 13-3 |
| Merrimack | 6-1 | 0.5 | 9-9 |
| Mount St. Mary's | 4-3 | 2.5 | 11-7 |
| Manhattan | 3-4 | 3.5 | 8-8 |
| Siena | 3-4 | 3.5 | 8-10 |
| Fairfield | 3-4 | 3.5 | 7-11 |
| Rider | 3-4 | 3.5 | 7-11 |
| Iona | 3-4 | 3.5 | 6-12 |
| Saint Peter's | 2-5 | 4.5 | 7-8 |
| Niagara | 2-5 | 4.5 | 7-11 |
| Sacred Heart | 2-5 | 4.5 | 6-12 |
| Canisius | 2-5 | 4.5 | 2-16 |
2024-25 Northeast Conference Standings
| Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long Island University | 6-0 | - | 10-11 |
| Central Connecticut | 3-2 | 2.5 | 12-6 |
| Fairleigh Dickinson | 3-2 | 2.5 | 7-13 |
| Wagner | 2-3 | 3.5 | 10-8 |
| Stonehill | 2-3 | 3.5 | 10-10 |
| Le Moyne | 2-3 | 3.5 | 7-13 |
| Chicago State | 2-3 | 3.5 | 2-18 |
| Mercyhurst | 2-4 | 4 | 8-13 |
| St. Francis (PA) | 2-4 | 4 | 7-13 |
Men's College Basketball News
