The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

IN a senior season where he looks to establish himself for the next level and have his Wagner Seahawks contend in the Northeastern Conference, Michael Carey continues to put up stellar numbers.

Carey finished with 22 points, 10 rebounds and two steals in the Seahawks’ 67-62 win over conference rivals, the Sacred Heart Pioneers, this weekend.

For Carey it was a night where he shot 61 per cent from the field and scored 14 of his game-high 22 points in the second half to fend the Pioneers off. It was his sixth double-double of the season and third in the last four games. It was also his third 20-point game in his last five outings. Wagner has a 3-2 win-loss record during that stretch. They improved to 8-10 on the season, 4-4 in NEC play. The Pioneers fall to 8-13 and 3-5 in conference play.

Carey has totalled 21 career double-doubles, now in his second year with the programme.

On the season he is averaging 12.5 points ad 8.9 rebounds per game.

“A hard-fought, very tough battle against a really talented, explosive offensive scoring team in Sacred Heart,” said Seahawk fifth-year head coach Bashir Mason on the school’s athletics website. “I’m proud of our guys for sticking with who we are for 40 minutes and coming out with a great road win, our first (road win) in the conference and I’m excited about it.”

Prior to the start of the season, Carey outlined his perceived role as a senior leader on the team.

“My responsibilities haven’t really changed, the coaching staff asked me to be more vocal, instead of just leading by example, I have to be the veteran of the team, I’m the oldest guy on the team, I have to take guys to the side and explain the plays and show them the tricks that someone once taught me,” Carey said.

“I’ve gotten trust from the coach allowing me to play my game, they trust my basketball IQ and allow me to manoeuvre around the court and take advantage that allows me to be 6’5” and a do-it-all guard.”

In 34 games last season, Carey played 29 minutes per game and averaged 12.6 points and 9.1 rebounds.

The Seahawks lost to Creighton 87-54 in the National Invitation Tournament second round.

Carey, posted 15 double-doubles on the season and was a two time NEC Player of the Week honouree.

In the offseason, Carey was a member of the Bahamas’ senior national team which finished seventh at the Centrobasket in Panama.

In the Big 12 and the Big 10, it was a continued struggle for Shaquille Cleare and Lourawls “Tum Tum” Nairn.

Cleare finished with 11 points, two rebounds and a blocked shot in 22 minutes of his Texas Longhorns’ 79-67 loss to the Kansas Jayhawks. The senior forward has scored in double figures for three consecutive games, but the Longhorns remain in the midst of a five-game losing streak.

The Longhorns have struggled with a 7-12 record, 9th in the Big 12.

Cleare is averaging 7.8 points and 4.9 rebounds per game this season.

Nairn finished with three points in the Michigan State Spartans’ 82-75 loss to the Indiana Hoosiers.

The Spartans are 12-8, 5th in the Big 10 and have lost consecutive games since defeating the No. 24 Minnesota Golden Gophers.