Staten Island, N.Y. – Wagner College shot 81-percent in the second half en route to a 73-61 victory over the Le Moyne College men's basketball team in Northeast Conference action on Saturday afternoon at the Spiro Sports Center.

Sophomore guard AJ Dancler (Indianapolis, Ind./Southport) led the Dolphins in the setback with a career-high 24 points, 13 of which came in the second half. His 24 points are the second-most by a Dolphin against an NEC opponent on the road in Le Moyne's two seasons in the conference (13 games), trailing Luke Sutherland's 26 at Sacred Heart on February 3, 2024. Redshirt junior forward Dwayne Koroma (Berlin, Germany/Bishop Walsh (Md.)/Iona/Salt Lake C.C./UT Arlington) turned in 14 points (eight in the first half) and a team-best four rebounds.

Zaire Williams led five Seahawks in double figures with 16 points, while adding five rebounds and five assists. Ja'Kair Sanchez and Zae Blake each had 14 points in 18 minutes of action. RJ Greene posted 12 points and five rebounds, while Javier Ezquerra recorded 10 points, five assists and four rebounds. The Seahawks shot 13-of-16 from the field in the second half (after going 8-of-21 in the first half), including 4-of-5 from three-point range, to go with 15-of-16 shooting from the foul line.

The Dolphins opened the game making seven of their first nine shots as they jumped out to a 17-12 lead through the initial 6:02. Fifth-year guard Darrick Jones Jr. (Richmond, Va./Oak Hill Academy/Towson) had a three-pointer and a conventional three-point play in the span, while Dancler had five points and Koroma had four.

After the teams split the next 12 points, the Seahawks scored six straight points to take their first lead since the opening minute of the game, 24-23, with 6:29 to go. Greene had a conventional three-point play and then Williams drained a three-pointer.

Following a tie at 26 with 4:21 left, the Dolphins scored six of the last eight points of the half to take a 32-28 lead at the intermission. Dancler made a pair of shots around a lay-up from Koroma.

After Wagner scored four of the first five points of the second half to close within one, but Koroma followed with four free throws in a span of 12 second to give the Dolphins a 37-32 lead with 16:40 remaining.

The Seahawks countered with nine straight points over 2:13 to ignite a 35-14 run to blow the game open. Ezquerra started the run with a three-pointer, Keyontae Lewis made a jumper, Sanchez converted a lay-up and Williams capped the initial burst with a jumper to force a Le Moyne timeout with 13:30 left.

After the teams traded baskets over the next two minutes, during which time the Dolphins pulled within two on a trio of occasions, Wagner scored seven straight points to take a nine-point lead. Greene made two free throws before Blake made a jumper and a three-pointer on consecutive possessions.

Following two free throws by the Dolphins over the next minute, the Seahawks extended their lead to 15 for the first time with nine of the next 10 points. Williams and Greene each scored two points before Blake hit a three-pointer and Greene added another lay-up.

Le Moyne countered with four points in 13 seconds to get within 61-50 with 5:45 left, but Greene made three free throws over two possessions and Blake drilled his fourth three-pointer of the game (without a miss) to give Wagner its largest lead of the game at 67-50 with 3:59 remaining.

The Dolphins cut their deficit to 12 with the next five points as Dancler made a free throw and a three-pointer (Le Moyne's first since the opening three minutes of the game after 13 straight misses) and then senior forward Ocypher Owens (Orlando, Fla./Orlando Christian Prep/Indian River State) converted a foul shot.

After Ezquerra connected on four straight free throws to push the margin back to 16, the Dolphins scored six of the last eight points of the game to deliver the final score. Graduate student guard Robby Carmody (Mars, Pa./Mars Area/Notre Dame/Mercer) made a lay-up and a free throw on separate possessions and then Dancler answered two Sanchez free throws with a three-pointer to complete the scoring.

Le Moyne (7-16, 2-6 NEC) is back on the road on Thursday at Saint Francis University at 7:00 p.m.