The Stonehill Skyhawks and Wagner Seahawks face off in a high-stakes NEC basketball matchup this Thursday at 7 p.m. EST. Louie Semona, fresh from a career-high 30-point performance against Mercyhurst, aims to solidify Stonehill’s conference standing. Both teams enter Staten Island’s court with contrasting strategies: Wagner’s disciplined defense clashes with Stonehill’s NEC-leading 14.9 assists per game.
Wagner holds a 7-5 home record this season, leveraging their 63.9-point scoring average. However, Stonehill’s offense poses a unique challenge, averaging 70.0 points – 8.6 more than the Seahawks typically allow.
“Stonehill’s ability to outpace Wagner’s defense could decide this game,”notes analytics firm Data Skrive.
Key players to watch include:
- Javier Ezquerra Trelles (Wagner): 7.2 PPG, 4.7 APG
- Zaire Williams (Wagner): 13.9 PPG last 10 games
- Amir Nesbitt (Stonehill): 2.8 APG team leader
- Todd Brogna (Stonehill): 10.9 PPG last 10 games
Recent trends favor Stonehill’s balanced attack. Over their last 10 games, the Skyhawks average 68.8 points with 45.6% shooting – significantly higher than Wagner’s 41.5% field goal rate. Yet the Seahawks’ home-court advantage and 5.5 steals per game could disrupt Stonehill’s rhythm.
This NEC basketball showdown carries playoff implications for both programs. A win would push Stonehill closer to a .500 conference record, while Wagner fights to avoid relegation to the NEC cellar. With Semona’s hot hand facing Wagner’s defensive schemes, Thursday’s game promises late-season fireworks.