Wagner holds on to win first tourney game in wild finish

Wagner Seahawks guard Javier Ezquerra plays the ball by Howard Bison guard Jordan Hairston. Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: Wagner holds on to win first NCAA Tournament game in wild finish

By Adam Gretz | Last updated 3/19/24

Appearing in just their second NCAA Tournament in program history, the Wagner Seahawks were able to win their first tournament game, 71-68, over the Howard Bison on Tuesday night.

Just like their journey to reach the tournament, there was nothing easy about the win.

Despite leading by as many as 17 points in the second half, Wagner had to hold off a furious Howard rally in the closing minutes that included a flurry of wide-open three-point shots near the buzzer. All of them missed. Have a look.

THE SEAHAWKS SURVIVE TO WIN THEIR FIRST EVER DI MEN'S TOURNAMENT GAME @Wagner_MBB pic.twitter.com/WQjYJ0ye8F
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 20, 2024

Howard could not have asked for three better looks there given the situation. None of them fell. Sometimes that is just the way it goes.

With the win, Wagner advances on to play No. 1 seed North Carolina on Thursday from Charlotte.

That is going to be a daunting challenge. Not only are the Tar Heels one of the top teams in the country, but they will also be playing what is basically a home game just two hours away from Chapel Hill.

No matter what happens in that game, this has still been a remarkable — and improbable — run by Wagner to even reach this point in the season.

It entered the Northeast Conference Tournament as the No. 6 seed, had a losing record (15-16) and was down to just seven healthy players during its conference championship win against Merrimack. Wagner still used only seven players in Tuesday's win over Howard.

That lack of depth, as well as the lack of top-end talent, is going to make for a brutal matchup against North Carolina. But you can't take away what the Seahawks have accomplished, and now they at least have an opportunity to say they won an NCAA Tournament game for the first time in program history.

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