Dec. 3, 2013

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - Lafayette held a seven-point halftime lead it never relinquished and earned its first road win of the season with a 77-65 triumph on Tuesday night at Spiro Sports Center. Four players scored in double figures as the Leopards earned their second straight victory.

Bryce Scott led the way with 18 points, including 14 in the second half, Nick Lindner had 17, and Seth Hinrichs and Dan Trist each chipped in 12. Hinrichs also contributed a team-high seven rebounds as Lafayette held a 38-30 edge on the glass. Jay Harris led all scorers with 23 points on seven threes in a losing effort for Wagner.

Wagner (4-5) sprinted out of the gate with back-to-back triples by Harris and held a 10-5 edge at the first media stoppage. Lafayette (2-5) used an 18-2 stretch over the next six minutes to take the lead on the strength of six points by Lindner and consecutive threes by Ptasinski and Hinrichs. Trist scored four points during the run, including a short jumper in the lane to punctuate the span as Lafayette went up 23-12.

Wagner trimmed the deficit to eight points on Harris' pull-up jumper in the lane, but Lafayette scored the next seven points, including another Ptasinski trey, and Wagner called timeout after Hinrichs fed Scott in transition to set up a left-handed layup. Lafayette led 34-20 with 5:11 to play before halftime.

The Seahawks put in eight of the next 10 points to pull within eight (36-28) over the next three minutes and trailed at the break 40-33 after a deep three by Harris as time was expiring. He scored 14 points in the period.

Harris continued his hot shooting from beyond the arc as Wagner got within four (45-41) early in the second half. Baskets inside by Scott following good ball movement and a bucket by Trist doubled Lafayette's lead five minutes into the half (49-41).

Leading by that margin, Trist followed a Hinrichs miss and absorbed the contact on a three-point play that sent Lafayette back ahead by double digits. Hinrichs then hit the offensive glass and got an easy two as Lafayette led 54-41 after eight straight points.

Wagner added the next four points, but Scott buried a three with the shot clock about to expire and then Ptasinski's steal led to an easy two for Scott as Lafayette went up 59-45 and matched its largest lead (14) with seven minutes to play.

A skip pass from Scott to Zach Rufer in the corner for three extended the advantage to 62-46, but Harris countered with a three of his own on the other end. His sixth three of the game sparked an 8-0 stretch for the Seahawks, in which Rivers netted the last five points.

Leading 62-54, Scott was fouled and made both free throws with four minutes showing. An empty possession for Wagner allowed Lafayette to run the clock down with under three minutes to play. Ptasinski's three missed but Flannigan tapped it out for a fresh 35.

Wagner took over with 2:08 to play after forcing a shot-clock violation and Harris drained another long ball to slice the Leopards' lead seven (64-57). Wagner failed to get any closer than 66-60 following Ortiz's steal and layup as the Leopards made 15-of-16 free throws in the final four minutes. Lindner finished the night 13-of-14 at the line and was 9-for-10 in crunch time.

Lafayette continues its two-game road trip on Saturday against Sacred Heart. The game is scheduled for 2 p.m. and can be seen live on NEC Front Row.

Game Notes:

Lafayette's seven point halftime lead was its largest of the season.

The Leopards posted season-highs in free throws made (23) and attempted (28).

The 38 rebounds matched a season-high (Princeton) for Lafayette.

Wagner's 65 points were a season-low for a Lafayette opponent.

Lafayette leads the all-time series against Wagner 6-3.

Lindner has scored at least 10 points in three straight games.