Let’s dance! UNCW heads to NCAA after winning CAA crown in OT

BALTIMORE, MD (WWAY) — What. A. Game.

It took five extra minutes, but for the first time in a decade, UNCW is heading to the Big Dance after winning its first Colonial Athletic Association Championship since 2006. The second-seeded Seahawks rallied in the second half in Baltimore tonight to beat top-seeded Hofstra 80-73 in overtime.

The game was tied 68-68 with 5.2, when UNCW guard Craig Ponder was called with a charge as he drove to the basket. Hofstra missed a desperation heave as regulation expired, and UNCW controlled the pace in OT for the win.

UNCW (25-7) jumped ahead quickly tonight. The Seahawks led by seven points twice in the early going, including 18-11. That’s when Hofstra took over, though, ending the half on a 30-13 run. But the Seahawks battled back late to take a lead before giving it up in the final minute to wind up in the extra five-minute period.

UNCW scored first in overtime, but Hofstra tied the game 73-73 with 1:36 to play. The Seahawks would retake the lead 16 second later when C.J. Bryce drove the lane for a layup, was fouled and made the free throw. The nail in the Pride’s coffin came with 36 left, when Denzel Ingram nailed a three-pointer. C.J. Bryce hit one of two free throws with 22 seconds to go to seal the deal.

Ponder led UNCW with 20 points.

It was the third straight nail-biter for UNCW, which beat Charleston 66-64 Saturday in the CAA quarterfinals and held on yesterday for a 73-70 win over Northeastern in the semifinals.

The Seahawks will now wait until Sunday to find out who they will play and where in the NCAA tournament.

The championship is the first under Kevin Keatts, who is in his second season in Wilmington. It is also UNCW’s fifth conference crown overall. The Seahawks’ last title in 2006 also came in a win over Hofstra.