NEW BRITAIN, Conn. (Interstat) — In a gritty defensive struggle defined by a decisive second-half stand, the Wagner Seahawks exacted a measure of revenge and snapped a two-game skid against their conference rivals by defeating the Central Connecticut Blue Devils 70-60 in a Northeast Conference men’s basketball game Wednesday night at William H. Detrick Gymnasium.

The most important part of the game unfolded after halftime, where Wagner’s defensive intensity completely stifled the Central Connecticut offense. After trailing 35-31 at the break, the Seahawks held the Blue Devils to just 25 points on 8-of-30 shooting in the second half, orchestrating a 39-25 frame to secure the road victory before an announced crowd of 2,105.

The game turned on a critical stretch early in the second period. With Wagner clinging to a narrow lead, the Seahawks’ defense locked down, forcing difficult shots and capitalizing on the other end. John Awoke, who led Wagner with 18 points, ignited a key run with a 3-pointer at the 18:24 mark. This was part of a larger 17-5 surge that transformed a tight contest into a 48-40 Wagner advantage with just over 12 minutes remaining. Central Connecticut, which had shot 50% in the first half, went cold, managing only one field goal over a near six-minute span during Wagner’s pivotal run.

Central Connecticut’s Darin Smith, the game’s leading scorer with 29 points, fought to keep his team close, but received limited support. The Blue Devils’ offense, which entered the game with an 80% probability to win according to Interstat’s ELO system, managed an offensive rating of just 99.8, scoring a point per possession. Wagner, by contrast, was more efficient, posting a 117.3 offensive rating.

The Seahawks’ interior presence, led by Binael Basil, proved crucial. Basil, a 6-foot-7 forward from Ottawa, contributed 16 points, two blocks and several key rebounds, providing a counter to Central Connecticut’s shot-blocking prowess. The Blue Devils recorded seven blocks, led by Max Frazier’s three, but Wagner’s persistence on the offensive glass, where they secured eight rebounds, created vital second-chance opportunities.

Wagner’s backcourt duo of Awoke and Nick Jones provided steady scoring and ball security. Jones added 17 points, and the pair combined for five of Wagner’s three total assists in a game characterized more by physical defense than fluid offense. The Seahawks committed only four turnovers, matching Central Connecticut’s total, in a remarkably clean contest.

Central Connecticut made a late push, cutting the deficit to eight points on a Frazier dunk with 30 seconds left, but Wagner sealed the game at the free-throw line, making 11 of 12 attempts overall.

The victory improved Wagner’s record to 14-16 overall and marked a significant turnaround from their two previous meetings this season, both losses to the Blue Devils. Central Connecticut, which had won five of its last six, fell to 18-12.

The game’s total of 130 points fell well under the over/under line of 140.5, underscoring the defensive nature of the contest. Wagner’s ability to dictate the tempo after halftime and execute against a stout Central Connecticut defense, which entered allowing just 69.3 points per game in conference play, formed the cornerstone of the upset.

The Seahawks demonstrated notable resilience, particularly after a first half where Smith’s 16 points had given the home team momentum. Wagner’s adjustments after the break, focusing on limiting Smith’s clean looks and challenging every Blue Devil shot, transformed the game and delivered a critical conference result as the regular season winds down.