The Fairleigh Dickinson Knights (13-12) and the Northeast’s top-ranked offense welcome the Wagner Seahawks (16-9) and the top-ranked defense in the conference. Action begins at 7:00 pm ET on Thursday, Feb. 18.
The Knights are hoping to rebound after their 72-70 loss to Robert Morris in their last matchup. Darian Anderson was the team’s leading scorer with 16 points. The Seahawks, meanwhile, are coming off a 79-55 win against Bryant in their last game. Romone Saunders was the game’s top scorer, registering 24 points on 8-for-12 shooting.
It will be a showdown of conflicting tempos, as the up-and-down Knights (ranked 33rd in the nation in possessions per game) will look to push the slow-paced Seahawks (279th in possessions per game). It could also be a mistake-prone game for the offense of the Seahawks, which ranks 283rd in ball security (TO% of 20.2%). They’ll be going up against the disruptive defense of the Knights, which forces the 17th-most turnovers in the nation (22.5%).
This is the second game of the year between these two teams, with the Knights winning the first matchup 82-79. Michael Carey finished with 24 points and 15 rebounds.
Notes
In its last game, Wagner won by a margin of 24 points. Fairleigh Dickinson is 2-3 in games decided by a margin of 18 points or more. Wagner has a 5-1 record in blowouts.
On average, Fairleigh Dickinson has 73.2 possessions per game and scores 1.063 points on each possession. Wagner has both fewer possessions (67.2) and scores fewer points during those possessions (1.030).
Fairleigh Dickinson has an average effective field goal percentage of 51.7%. Wagner is a losing 1-4 when opponents have a similar or higher effective field goal percentage.
On average, the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights attempt 19.0 three point field goals per game and the Wagner Seahawks attempt 18.0. In games where they attempt at least 20 threes, Fairleigh Dickinson has a 7-5 record and Wagner has a 7-6 record.
When it comes to offensive rebounds, Wagner ranks 18th. Fairleigh Dickinson ranks 332nd in defensive rebounds.
Though Fairleigh Dickinson is one of the best in the country in forcing turnovers with opponents averaging a TO% of 22.5% (ranked 17th), Wagner has a winning 5-2 record SU when its TO% is 22.5% or greater.
