DAYTON, Ohio — Big dreams can begin on this floor, in this arena, on this night, even for a small school in the first four.
And the Wagner College Seahawks boldly realized their dream.
They won the NEC Tournament, which no one believed they could win. Because how can an injury-riddled team with seven players and a coach afraid of contact drills survive and advance to the First Four, where the Howard Bison bravely advanced? Do you have the same dream?
Coach Donald Copeland’s Seahawks needed 40 more minutes of marching magic before arriving in Charlotte to face North Carolina, 16-1, in the West Division on Thursday.
But this was their chance to make history. After waiting 21 years for a second chance, a chance to become the first Wagner team to win a game in the NCAA Tournament. This is your chance to put Staten Island on the map.
Oh, they sure were.
Meet Wagner!!
The NEC’s determined champions played without fear and, despite a shaky finish, dominated Howard 71-68.
Melvin Council Jr. (21 points) was the star. But they were all really stars. All seven Wagner Seahawks.
The first Seahawks to emerge from the locker room were wearing green hoodies that covered their heads with “MADE FOR THIS” written in white across the chest. The injured brothers, dressed in black, stood near the center of the court and watched the final warm-up.
One of the small contingent of Wagner fans yelled, “Let’s go Hawks, baby!” As tipoff approached. The lights were dimmed for introductions, and the words “MARCH MADNESS” appeared in white letters in the center of the coat.
Of course, there must have been some anxiety about the NCAA. Why is that not the case? Wagner will play at the 2,100-capacity Spiro Sports Center. This was different. Capacity: 13,409 people. More exposure.
This was an effort into what former Marquette coach Al McGuire dubbed the Big Dance. “When I go to the Big Dance, I have to wear a blue blazer,” McGuire said on his way to the 1977 U.S. Championships.
The matchup with Howard was Wagner’s national championship match. Hickory High School vs. Hickory High School. Cinderella meets Cinderella. One person keeps a glass slipper. For just one shining moment. One person goes home. barefoot.
Toughness would have helped the Seahawks, remember? Toughness and that huge heart. I haven’t practiced live since December 27th. All they had was seven Ironmen. Maybe all we needed was seven Iron Men?
After 10 minutes, Wagner had built an 11-point lead.
Can Iron Man last another 30 minutes?
The lead expanded to 17 points. By intermission, Howard was within 38-27.
Will Wagner Ironman last another 20 minutes? A 6-foot-7 sec Zongo picks up three fouls? Can Council continue to be the best player on the court?
Keyonte Lewis’ follow-up made it 48-31, and Bison head coach Kenny Blakeney called a timeout with 16 minutes, 22 seconds left, and as Council returned to the sideline, he looked up into the stands behind the press row and saw Wagner’s head coach. He asked the audience for support.
Howard shot back.
Council, 6-4, 185 pounds, and Seth Towns, 6-9, 230 pounds, flanked him and went silent.
Wagner 59, Howard 47 with 10 minutes left.
Can Wagner Ironman last the last 10 minutes?
Back-to-back threes from Marcus Dockery and Towns led to Copeland’s call with 2:24 remaining.
Wagner 67, Howard 60.
Taron Allen lost the ball out of bounds. Bryce Harris sank two free throws.
Wagner 67, Howard 62, 1:48 left.
Council scored from the left side, missed one goal and tried to score on the other side.
Howard’s steal set up Isaiah Warfield’s lay-in, making it 69-66.
With 1:02 left, Wagner called time.
Council missed a fallaway jumper.
Bryce Harris’ drive made it 69-68, and Howard called a timeout.
17 seconds left.
Julian Brown was fouled in the backcourt and headed to the line, making it 1-and-1.
Less than 15 seconds left.
He sank first.
I sank the second one.
Howard had three chances to tie the game, but missed three open 3-pointers and the game ended.
Just one year ago, FDU defeated Texas Southern at UD Arena, and two nights later, at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, a coach named Tobin Anderson defeated Texas Southern, the shortest team in the tournament, a 23-point underdog. After that, he said: The biggest upset came against Purdue, with the 16th seed overtaking the 1st seed.
“If we played them 100 times, they would probably beat us 99 times. If you play 100 times, you win once. But tonight we had to be unique, unconventional. We had to be tough on them, we just had to be different.”
The bubble burst and FDU failed to advance from the First Four to the Final Four. But Shaka Smart and VCU in 2011 and UCLA in 2021 were.
Wagner won’t make it to the Final Four. Tuesday night’s Final 64 was good enough.
Wagner continues dancing.
