Nov. 28, 2006

Box Score

Staten Island, NY - After jumping out to a 12-point lead late in the second half the Brown Bears used clutch free-throw shooting down the stretch to hold off the Wagner College Seahawks 66-61 earlier tonight at the Spiro Sports Center. The Bears shot 45.5 percent (20-44) from the floor while knocking down 82.6 percent (19-23) of their free throws. The Seahawks in comparison shot just 34.0 percent (17-50) from the floor and 21.4 percent (3-14) from behind the arc.

Junior James Ulrich (Mt. Laurel, NJ / Camden Catholic) led Wagner (1-5) with a career best 19 points, including 7-7 free throw shooting and seven rebounds Classmate Mark Porter (Atlantic City, NJ / St. Augustine's Prep) went 9-10 from the line himself to record a 16-point night and seven rebound evening.

After Brown (2-5) took the largest lead of the game 52-40, with 6:58 left the Seahawks made their trademark second half move. Wagner ripped off 13-3 run over the next 3:50, fueled by six points from Porter to cut it to two at 55-53. However the Seahawks would get no closer despite cutting it to two points on two more occasions. Down 64-61 with nine seconds remaining the Green & White failed to get a shot off, turning the ball over and the Bears iced with two free throws for the 66-61 win.

In the beginning Ulrich scored eight of Wagner's first 11 points to help stake an early 11-6 lead with 14:55 to go in the first. Brown would later rattle off nine-straight points to go up 22-17 with 7:30 remaining in the first. The Seahawks which have not led at halftime yet this season would cut the lead to one at 24-23 before the Bears answered with a three pointer for a 30-27 lead at the half.

The Bears gained their slim halftime lead in large part to 48.0 percent shooting (12-25) while holding the Green & White to just 37.5 percent shooting (9-24). Brown was also sparked by an 18-8 advantage in the paint.

Mark McAndrew led the game with 20 points for Brown hitting 5-7 from three to go with seven rebounds. Keenan Jeppesen was also in double figures with 14 points and hit a huge three-pointer for a six point Bear lead with 1:16 left.

Sophomore Jamal Smith (Baltimore, MD / Towson Catholic) had a game high eight rebounds with nine points as Wagner led the category 40-29. The Seahawks managed 20 offensive rebounds, but turned them into just 12 second chance points.

Wagner ends the three game home stand on Saturday as they host another Ivy League opponent in Yale at 2:00 pm.