LORETTO, Pa. (Interstat) — Travis Gray scored 27 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead Wagner to a 65-56 victory over Saint Francis (Pa.) in a Northeast Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at DeGol Arena. The teams were tied 31-31 at halftime, but the Seahawks held the Red Flash to 25 second-half points. Zion Russell led Saint Francis with 21 points in the loss. Wagner improved to 11-16 overall and 6-22 for Saint Francis (Pa.). An announced crowd of 1,068 watched the game where Wagner avenged a two-point home loss to the Red Flash from Jan. 8.

LORETTO, Pa. (Interstat) — In a grinding, defensive struggle defined more by missed shots than made ones, the Wagner Seahawks used a decisive second-half surge to secure a 65-56 victory over the Saint Francis (PA) Red Flash in a Northeast Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at DeGol Arena. The game, played before an announced crowd of 1,068, saw both teams locked in a 31-31 stalemate at halftime. The second half, however, belonged to Wagner’s defensive discipline and the offensive prowess of forward Travis Gray. The Seahawks held the Red Flash to just 25 points after the break, pulling away down the stretch to snap a two-game skid and improve to 11-16 overall. Gray, a 6-foot-6 junior from Syracuse, New York, was the game’s dominant force, pouring in 27 points and grabbing 11 rebounds in 32 minutes. His performance was pivotal in a contest where efficient offense was scarce. Wagner shot just 39.2% from the field and 25.9% from three-point range, while Saint Francis (PA) managed only 36.2% from the floor and 27.3% from deep. The most critical phase of the game unfolded in the final eight minutes. After Saint Francis (PA) guard Zion Russell connected on a 3-pointer to bring the Red Flash within 45-43 with 10:27 remaining, Wagner engineered the game-deciding run. Gray answered with a 3-pointer of his own on the next possession, igniting a 13-4 Seahawk surge over the next five minutes. The run was fueled by defense and free throws. Wagner forced three turnovers and held Saint Francis (PA) to 1-of-6 shooting during the stretch. Meanwhile, the Seahawks capitalized at the line, with Binael Basil converting two free throws and Gray adding another pair. A driving layup by Nick Jones with 5:35 left capped the run, giving Wagner its first double-digit lead at 58-47. The Red Flash never threatened again, unable to mount a sustained offensive response against Wagner’s tightening defense. Saint Francis (PA), which fell to 6-22, was led by Russell’s 21 points and six rebounds. The Red Flash struggled mightily from the free-throw line, converting only 8 of 17 attempts, a key factor in a nine-point loss. They also committed 11 turnovers, which Wagner converted into 16 points. While Gray starred, Wagner received crucial contributions from its frontcourt. Basil, a 6-foot-7 forward from Ottawa, provided eight points, nine rebounds, three assists and a block. Makhai Anderson added seven rebounds off the bench, helping Wagner to a 39-35 edge on the glass. The game’s tempo was deliberate, with Wagner using 67 possessions and Saint Francis (PA) 66. The Seahawks posted an offensive rating of 97.1 points per 100 possessions, while the Red Flash managed just 84.8, underscoring the defensive nature of the contest. Both teams scored 16 points off turnovers and 7 fastbreak points, but Wagner’s 18-of-23 performance at the charity stripe proved to be a decisive advantage over Saint Francis (PA)’s 8-of-17 showing. The victory avenged a 71-69 home loss to the Red Flash on Jan. 8. Wagner, which entered the game as a 1.5-point favorite according to sportsbooks, defied a pregame statistical projection that gave Saint Francis (PA) a 56.4% probability to win. The combined point total of 121 fell well under the betting over/under line of 150.5. Wagner looks to build momentum when it returns home to host New Haven on Thursday. Saint Francis (PA) continues its search for consistency as it hits the road to face New Haven on Tuesday.

LORETTO, Pa. (Interstat) — Two teams seeking momentum in the final stretch of the regular season will meet Saturday when the Wagner Seahawks visit the Saint Francis (PA) Red Flash in a Northeast Conference men’s basketball matchup. The game at DeGol Arena pits struggling squads, with Wagner entering at 9-16 overall and Saint Francis (PA) at 6-20. Despite the records, their previous meeting this season was a tight affair, with the Red Flash edging the Seahawks 71-69 on Jan. 8. Wagner looks to snap a two-game skid following an 83-65 road loss to Long Island on Monday. The Seahawks will rely on guard Nick Jones, who has been a key offensive catalyst. Jones is coming off a quiet 5-point outing but averaged 20.3 points over a three-game stretch earlier this month, including a 26-point performance in a win over Fairleigh Dickinson. Saint Francis (PA) has lost five straight, most recently a 94-79 home defeat to Mercyhurst on Feb. 14. The Red Flash feature high-scoring guard Skylar Wicks, who erupted for 33 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists in that loss. Wicks has averaged 22.3 points over his last four games, providing a consistent offensive bright spot for a team that has struggled to secure wins. The matchup will hinge on which team’s standout guard can impose his will and which supporting cast can provide necessary contributions. Wagner will aim to control the tempo and improve upon its recent offensive inconsistencies, while Saint Francis (PA) will look to leverage home court and Wicks’ scoring prowess to break its prolonged losing streak. Following this contest, Wagner hosts New Haven on Feb. 26, while Saint Francis (PA) begins a three-game road trip at New Haven on Feb. 24. Tipoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. EST Saturday at DeGol Arena.