NEW YORK -- Latif Rivers scored 18 points to lead Wagner past LIU Brooklyn 75-68 Thursday night in Northeastern Conference play.

After a jumper by Jason Brickman pulled LIU Brooklyn (7-13, 2-5) within four, 48-44, with 10:37 to play, Wagner slowly pulled away. The Seahawks used short spurts of 5-0 and 8-2 over the next 7 minutes to open up a 68-55 lead on a 3-pointer by Jay Harris with 3:43 left. The Blackbirds never threatened again.

Orlando Parker and Mario Moody scored 14 points apiece for Wagner (10-10, 4-3), which shot 50.9 percent (28 of 55) from the field. Harris added 10 points and five assists.

Kenneth Ortiz, the two-time NEC Defensive Player of the Year, set a career high with six steals and added seven assists and five rebounds.

Parker and Moody added eight and seven rebounds, respectively.

E.J. Reed paced LIU Brooklyn with 18 points. Brickman had 13 assists.