BROOKLYN HEIGHTS, N.Y. - After scoring two wins in three consecutive road games, the St. Francis Brooklyn men's basketball team returned home to host the final meeting with inter-borough rivals Wagner.
The two teams were separated but just five points in their first meeting of the season, and on Sunday it would be even closer.
The Seahawks (14-2, 10-0 NEC) escaped the Pope Center with a win, defeating the Terriers (6-15, 3-7 NEC), 72-69.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Jack Hemphill scored the first field goal of the game on a three pointer, assisted by Rob Higgins, to put SFBK in front 3-2.
After the Seahawks tied the game at the free throw line, the Terriers retook the lead with 17:32 to play in the first half when Tedrick Wilcox Jr. pulled down a Patrick Emilien miss and put it back up for a 5-3 lead.
Wagner answered with a 5-0 run, but the Terriers clawed their way back in front when Higgins laid one in from the paint. They led 9-8 with 14:46 to play.
The Seahawks settled in to their offense from there, opening up an 11-2 over the next four minutes of action, leading 20-11 with 10:41 remaining.
Both teams went scoreless for a two minute stretch, broken up with a pair of successful free throw attempts by Vuk Stevanic with 7:23 to go in the half. Wagner led 20-17 at that point.
11 of the Terrier's 31 first half points were scored at the free throw line, they missed just one attempt in the first 20 minutes.
Wagner's lead would climb to eight points in the final two minutes, but a Wilcox Jr. triple with two seconds remaining in the first half cut the visitors' lead to 37-31 at the break.
He scored the final two points of the first half, and first points of the second half with a jumper that cut the Wagner lead to 37-33.
Hemphill cut the Seahawk lead to 37-35 with 18:47 remaining on a 2-2 trip to the line. Wagner was held without a field goal for the opening 1:56 of the second half.
Larry Moreno got the Terriers to within two points of the lead, when he scored a three off an assist from Wilcox Jr. with 14:12 to go.
Coming out of the under-12 media timeout, Emilien powered to the basket off a feed from Higgins; getting SFBK to a 50-49 deficit, the closest it would get in the second half. Wagner shot back with a 5-0 run.
Both teams traded baskets down the stretch, as the Terriers kept the lead with no more than three possessions down the stretch, but were never able to close the gap.
The home team got to within one possession on five occasions in the final ten minutes, including when Wilcox Jr. beat the horn to score the final points of the game, and finish the game out with a 72-69 final score.
TEAM LEADERS
Tedrick Wilcox Jr. led the Terriers in four categories on Sunday; finishing with 15 points (6-11 FG, 3-7 3PT), 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals.
Michael Cubbage finished with 13 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal.
Rob Higgins matched him with 13 points of his own, adding 3 assists and 1 steal.
Patrick Emilien rounded out the four St. Francis double-digit scorers with 10 points and 7 rebounds.
NEXT UP: The Terriers continue a three-game homestand on Thursday, Feb. 3 when they host FDU. The game will air live on ESPN+.
