NEW YORK (Interstat) — In a wild, back-and-forth affair that required an extra period to decide, the Wagner Seahawks snapped a five-game losing streak with a dramatic 103-101 overtime victory over the Manhattan Jaspers on Wednesday night at Draddy Gymnasium.

Nick Jones was the catalyst for Wagner, pouring in a game-high 35 points to lead the Seahawks to their first win of the season. His performance was essential in overcoming a dominant first half from the Jaspers and securing the win in front of a crowd of 1,312.

The game appeared to be slipping away from Wagner early, as Manhattan came out scorching. The Jaspers built a commanding 56-43 halftime lead, fueled by efficient three-point shooting and aggressive play. Manhattan connected on 12 of its 27 attempts from beyond the arc for the game, with Fraser Roxburgh and Devin Dinkins finding early success.

Wagner, however, refused to capitulate. The Seahawks mounted a massive second-half comeback, outscoring Manhattan 46-33 after the break to force overtime. The turnaround was keyed by a relentless attack in the paint, where Wagner finished with a decisive 54-30 advantage. Sam Smith provided a crucial spark off the bench for the Seahawks, contributing 14 points in just 14 minutes of action.

The overtime period was a tense affair, featuring six lead changes. Manhattan’s Jaden Winston, who finished with 21 points, gave the Jaspers a 101-99 lead with a layup late in the extra frame. On the ensuing possession, Jones drove to the basket, scored through contact, and completed the three-point play at the free-throw line to put Wagner back in front.

Manhattan had two final chances to win or tie. After a Wagner shot clock violation, the Jaspers set up a play, but Terrance Jones had his layup attempt blocked by Nick Jones. Wagner secured the defensive rebound, and Nick Jones was fouled, sinking two free throws to extend the lead to 103-101. Manhattan’s final attempt, a three-pointer from Dinkins as time expired, missed the mark.

While Manhattan shared the offensive load, with Dinkins scoring 25 points and dishing out five assists and Roxburgh adding 17 points, it was not enough to overcome Wagner’s efficiency. The Seahawks shot an impressive 57.8 percent from the floor, including 9 of 16 from three-point range. Wagner also won the possession battle, scoring their 103 points on just 76 possessions for an elite offensive rating of 135.8, compared to Manhattan’s 101 points on 84 possessions.

Defensively, Wagner used its length to disrupt Manhattan’s interior game, recording eight blocks. Zavier Fitch was a key part of that effort with three blocks to go with his 10 points.

The loss drops Manhattan to 3-4 on the season, while Wagner improves to 1-5. The Seahawks will look to build on this momentum when they travel to face Maryland on Tuesday. Manhattan will try to regroup on the road at Army on Saturday.