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North Andover, MA — From the second the book closed on the 2023-24 regular season last on Saturday, sixth-seeded Wagner had “upset” on their mind.
Running the gauntlet of top seeds, the Green & White did the unthinkable and made history on Wednesday, handing second-seeded Merrimack a 54-47 defeat to claim their first title since 2003 and punch their ticket to the Big Dance.
It marked the first time in the 43-year history of the NEC Tournament that a team went on the road three times and brought home the conference crown. The Seahawks also matched the 1999 Mount St. Mary's squad as the lowest seeded team to win the tourney title.
Departing Staten Island and beginning their NEC Tournament journey on a trip to Connecticut last Wednesday, Wagner (16-15) took down third-seeded Sacred Heart, then rolled through the Nutmeg State with a stunner over top-seeded Central Connecticut three days later.
With just one more win standing between them and the program’s second-ever NEC championship, the Seahawks would not be deterred by an SRO crowd at Lawler Arena in North Andover, MA.
Leading the charge for Wagner was Tahron Allen, who delivered a star-studded 22-point outing, which matched his career-high in a Seahawk uniform. The junior forward averaged 18.3 ppg and 6.0 rpg over three games to earn Tournament MVP honors.
It was Allen's three-pointer with 12:38 to play that extended Wagner's lead to 41-30, but the Warriors would not go away before a frenzied throng of fans at Lawler.
Merrimack (21-12) immediately ran off 13 straight points, highlighted by a pair of Jordan McKoy three-pointers that gave the Warriors a 43-41 advantage with 8:07 on the clock.
Wagner withstood the run and immediately turned the momentum back in its favor.
The Seahawks held the Warriors scoreless for over six minutes while scoring eight points in a row to take a 49-43 lead with 2:18 on the clock. Among the key buckets was a circus shot by Melvin Council Jr., followed by an Allen runner that pushed Wagner's lead to six.
After Budd Clark's layup sliced the lead back to 49-45, Allen and Javier Ezquerra sealed the deal at the line for the Seahawks.
Wagner held Merrimack to just one field goal over the final 8:07 and 29.8 percent shooting for the game. The Warriors were just 10-of-38 from three-point range.
A clearly hobbled Jordan Derkack, who was named the NEC Player and Defensive Player of the Year earlier this week, was limited to four points in a game effort by the uber talented junior guard.
Joining Allen on the All-Tournament Team from Wagner was Council Jr., an All-NEC first teamer. Putting up 12 points against the Warriors, he charted 8.7 points and 5.3 boards during the Seahawks’ storybook title run.
Keyontae Lewis finished with eight points and a game-high 12 rebounds for Wagner.
Devon Savage led Merrimack with 16 points and six rebounds en route to All-Tournament honors. He was 4-of-12 from downtown.
Wagner will learn its opponent in the NCAA Tournament on Sunday evening during the 2024 NCAA Men’s Selection Show, which is set to air on CBS at 6 pm.
NEC All-Tournament Team
Tahron Allen, WC - MVP
Melvin Council Jr., WC
Adam "Budd" Clark, MC
Devon Savage, MC
Luke Sutherland, LEM