NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. — Tahron Allen scored 22 points and No. 6 seed Wagner allowed just four points in the final eight minutes of a 54-47 victory over top-seeded Merrimack on Tuesday night in the championship game of the Northeast Conference Tournament. .
The Seahawks advance to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2003.
After losing four of five to end the regular season, Wagner defeated Central Connecticut in the semifinals and Merrimack in the championship game. The Blue Devils and Warriors tied for first place in the conference, and Merrimack earned first place in the tournament.
After winning last season's conference tournament in their final season transitioning to Division I, the Warriors were looking to repeat and advance to the NCAA Tournament for the first time. Still, they trailed by 11 points on their own court after Allen hit a 3-pointer for a 41-30 lead with less than 13 minutes remaining.
The Warriors responded with 13 straight points, Bryan Etumnu's three-pointer giving them a 43-41 lead with about eight minutes left in the game.
Three minutes later, Javier Ezquerra and Melvin Council Jr. hit consecutive jumpers and Wagner led 46-43. Allen scored to give the Seahawks a five-point lead and added two free throws with 70 seconds left to make the score 51-45.
The Warriors shot three 3-pointers on their next possession and missed them all before Jordan McKoy was fouled and made both free throws with 25 seconds left. Merrimack fouled Javier Ezquerra and he made two free throws to take a 53-47 lead after 21 seconds. Devon Savage missed another three-pointer for Merrimack and the game was out of reach.
Savage scored 16 points and McKoy 11 for Merrimack (21-12).
Council scored 12 points and Keyontae Lewis grabbed 12 rebounds for Wagner (16-15).
Wagner, eighth nationally allowing 62.6 points per game, shut down Merrimack on the perimeter. The Warriors made just 10 of 38 three-pointers and shot 30% overall. The Seahawks made 45% of their shots.
Wagner tied the 1999 Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers as the only teams sixth or worse to win the NEC Tournament.
