The Wagner Seahawks secured a 68-57 win over the Stonehill Skyhawks, led by Binael Basil's impressive 16 points and 16 rebounds. Basil's double-double performance propelled Wagner to an 11-point victory, with the team scoring 42 points in the second half. Stonehill's Chas Stinson scored 18 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome Wagner's strong performance, which included 26 points in the first half. Wagner's record now stands at 9-15, while Stonehill falls to 9-18.
Binael Basil's 16 Rebounds Mark a Season High for Wagner
The game began with a closely contested first half, with Wagner leading 26-24 at halftime. However, the Seahawks pulled away in the second half, outscoring Stonehill 42-33. Wagner's strong rebounding, led by Basil's 16 boards, helped the team secure a 34-24 rebounding margin. Stonehill's Hermann Koffi added 10 points, but the team struggled to contain Wagner's offense, which shot 44.7% from the field. The Seahawks' 68 points marked their highest total in the last five games, with Basil's performance accounting for nearly a quarter of the team's scoring. Stonehill's 57 points, on the other hand, were their lowest total in the last three games, with Stinson's 18 points accounting for nearly a third of the team's scoring.
Binael Basil was the standout performer for Wagner, scoring 16 points and grabbing 16 rebounds. Nick Jones and Michael Cooper added 9 points each for the Seahawks, with Jones shooting 3-6 from the field. For Stonehill, Chas Stinson led the way with 18 points, while Hermann Koffi and Davante Hackett scored 10 and 9 points, respectively. Stinson's 18 points marked his fifth consecutive game in double figures, with the junior guard averaging 14.2 points per game over that span. Basil's double-double, meanwhile, was his third of the season, with the sophomore forward averaging 10.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per game.
CHD Scout Report Card
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Wagner outrebounded Stonehill 34-24, with Basil's 16 rebounds leading the way. The Seahawks shot 44.7% from the field, compared to Stonehill's 40.4%. Wagner also committed 12 turnovers, while Stonehill had 15. The Seahawks' 42 points in the second half marked their highest total in a half since scoring 45 points in the first half against Mount St. Mary's on January 26. Stonehill's 33 points in the second half, on the other hand, were their lowest total in a half since scoring 28 points in the first half against Sacred Heart on January 19. Wagner's 68 points marked their highest total since scoring 71 points against Central Connecticut on January 12.
The CHD Scout predicted a Stonehill win by 2 points, with a final score of 69-67. However, Wagner's 11-point victory marked a significant departure from the predicted outcome. The model underestimated Wagner's rebounding ability, as well as Basil's potential for a double-double. The Seahawks' strong second-half performance, which included 42 points, also caught the model off guard. With this result, the CHD Scout's accuracy takes a hit, with the model now correctly predicting 62.5% of games this season. The model's mean absolute error (MAE) also increases to 8.5 points per game, highlighting the need for further refinement.
This game was classified as a Quad 4 matchup for both teams, with Wagner's win improving their record to 9-15. Stonehill's loss, meanwhile, drops their record to 9-18. Wagner's NET ranking remains at 327, while Stonehill's NET ranking stays at 337. The Seahawks' quad record now stands at 4-11, while Stonehill's quad record is 3-12. With this result, Wagner's tournament chances remain slim, but the team's strong performance against Stonehill could provide a much-needed boost to their confidence. Stonehill, on the other hand, must regroup and refocus in order to salvage their season.
Wagner's next game is against Fairleigh Dickinson on February 18, while Stonehill takes on Saint Francis Brooklyn on February 19. Both teams want to build on their current momentum, with Wagner seeking to carry over their strong performance against Stonehill. Stonehill, meanwhile, will aim to bounce back from their disappointing loss and get back on track in the Northeast Conference.