Seahaws set two more records in season finale

WILMINGTON, NC (UNCWSPORTS.COM) – Sophomore guard C.J. Bryce pumped in 23 points and the UNCW men’s basketball team set school records for total victories and home wins in a 74-65 decision over visiting Northeastern in the regular season finale for both Colonial Athletic Association teams early Saturday at Trask Coliseum.

The Seahawks (26-5, 15-3) wrapped up the regular campaign with their fourth straight win and finished in sole possession of first place in the CAA standings after being picked to win the title by CAA observers before the season began. It was the fifth sellout of the season for the Seahawks at Trask Coliseum.

Northeastern (15-15, 8-10) threw a scare into UNCW midway through the second half and wound up losing four of its final five outings and both games in the season series with the Seahawks.

The Seahawks established a school record for single season victories, surpassing the 25 wins set by the 2005-06 and 2015-16 squads. With a 13-1 home record, this year’s club also won more games at Trask Coliseum than another team in the building’s 50-year history.

Coach Kevin Keatts and his club now direct their attention to next week’s CAA Tournament, where they’ll be the No. 1 seed and face the winner of the Hofstra-Delaware first-round matchup in one of four quarterfinal games next Saturday, March 4, at Noon.

Bryce notched scored more than 20 points for the 10^th time this season and added five rebounds and three assists for the Seahawks, who led by as many as 25 points early in the second half. Senior guard Chris Flemmings added 19 points and senior guard Denzel Ingram chipped in 13 points, five rebounds and five assists.

Senior guard T.J. Williams poured in a game-high 24 points to lead four Huskies in double figures. Freshman Shawn Occeus came off the bench to collect 13 points – all in the second half – freshman guard Bolden Brace and sophomore forward Anthony Green contributed 12 and 10, respectively.

“It’s really tough when you’re picked No. 1 in the preseason,” said Keatts, who stands 35-5 in home games and 45-14 in CAA contests in three seasons. “You’re always going to get everyone’s best shot. This program is moving in the right direction

“I’m so proud of these guys for believing that we could be champions once again. We have a great opportunity because we have a very good basketball team that obviously believes they can win.”

It marks the third time in school history that the Seahawks have finished 15-3 in CAA contests. The 2002-03 and 2005-06 teams also registered 15 wins en route to CAA championships.

After racing out to a 40-17 cushion at intermission, the Seahawks had some anxious moments in the second half before closing out the Huskies.

The Seahawks still led, 49-25, following a Bryce jumper with just under 16 minutes left when the Huskies, sparked by Occeus, exploded for a 21-2 run to narrow the deficit to just five points. A trifecta by Occeus on the right wing brought the Huskies within, 51-46, at 9:27.

But Bryce drained a critical triple and Flemmings followed with an old-fashioned three-point play to get the Seahawks back on track. Cacok then added a reverse layup and the Seahawks padded their lead to 59-46 at 6:45.

The two teams exchanged baskets briefly before the Huskies got the deficit back to seven points with 5:35 to go. However, the Seahawks held off the Boston-based visitors down the stretch, connecting on six of eight free throws in the last minute to seal the win.

The Huskies missed their first eight field goal attempts and UNCW capitalized on NU’s cold start. While the rims were unkind to the Huskies, the Seahawks sank seven of their first 11 shots to put Bill Coen’s club in a big hole early.

Four different players scored over the first seven minutes for the Seahawks and a turnaround jumper in the paint by Devontae Cacok staked UNCW to a 15-0 advantage at the 13:40 mark, forcing Coen to burn two of his three 30-second timeouts early in the contest.

Williams finally got the Huskies on the board with a jumper at the free throw line with 13:12 left in the first half as NU strung together five quick points.

But Bryce and Flemmings responded with a trey and free throw and the Seahawks never headed. A 17-5 spurt, capped by Ambrose Mosley’s three-ball, extended the margin to 32-10 and the Seahawks later enjoyed their largest lead of the half, 38-10, after reserve guard JaQuel Richmond sank both ends of a bonus situation.

Williams, the CAA’s leading point producer, scored 14 of NU’s 17 points in the first half. Max Boursiquot’s trifecta with eight seconds left in the half represented the only other points for the Huskies.

NU wound up shooting just 25 percent in the opening period on 9-of-36 field goals. UNCW made 19-of-36 field goals for 52.8 percent.

GAME NOTES: The Seahawks lead the all-time series, 12-10, and have won six of nine matchups at Trask Coliseum against the Huskies…UNCW has won four in a row vs. NU…All four seniors started for UNCW…Denzel Ingram led all players with five assists…The Seahawks led wire-to-wire in the contest…Sophomore forward Devontae Cacok finished with nine points and nine rebounds…The Seahawks went 7-for-22 behind the arc…Four different players made a triple for UNCW…NU freshman Bolden Brace, who poured in 40 points in a victory at Elon on Thursday, went 4-for-15 from the field on Saturday…The Seahawks swept the series from the Huskies for the first time since 2014-15.