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Men's Basketball

Seahawks Ring In New Year With CAA Opener Against Pride

Game #12: UNCW "Seahawks" (5-6, 0-0) vs. Hofstra "Pride" (9-4, 0-0)
Trask Coliseum (5,100) • Wilmington, N.C.
Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015 • 2 p.m.
Seahawk Digital Network (Audio)  • Live Stats
Twitter: @UNCWMensHoops • #wingsup
Game Notes: UNCW | Hofstra
22207
UNCW "Seahawks"
2014-15 Record: 5-6, 0-0 CAA
Last Game: Dec.30 at Ohio - L, 73-52  (Recap | Box Score)
Head Coach: Kevin Keatts (1st Season)
Roster | Schedule | Statistics | Homepage
21476Hofstra "Pride"
2014-15 Record: 9-4, 0-0 CAA
Last Game: Dec. 31 at CCSU - W, 84-56 (Recap | Box Score)
Head Coach: Joe Mihalich (2nd Season)
Roster | Schedule | Statistics | Homepage

WILMINGTON, North Carolina – The UNCW men's basketball team rings in the New Year and the Colonial Athletic Association schedule early Saturday when high-flying Hofstra visits Trask Coliseum for a 2 p.m. tip-off at Trask Coliseum.
 
The Seahawks concluded their non-conference schedule with a 5-6 record after tackling eight of 11 games on the road in the early portion of the slate. UNCW has dropped successive road games to Campbell, Minnesota and Ohio entering the league portion of the docket.
 
"We're excited about starting conference play," said Kevin Keatts, UNCW's first-year head coach.  "We play our non-conference games to prepare for conference play. Hofstra reminds me a lot of a very good Davidson team because of how well they shoot the basketball."
 
Keatts & Co. embarks on their conference schedule after facing a variety of teams in November and December. The Seahawks opened the campaign back on Nov. 15 and played well at Old Dominion before taking down UNCG and VMI on the road and hammering St. Andrews in a record-setting 105-47 decision on Dec. 3 at Trask Coliseum. UNCW then threw a scare into No. 4 Louisville before beating archrival East Carolina and falling in the last three games.
 
Saturday marks the CAA debut for Keatts, who took over the program on April 1. Four of UNCW's seven head coaches in the CAA era have been victorious in their first conference game and five have won their first conference home game.
 
Overall, the Seahawks stand 12-18 in CAA openers through the years, including 7-9 at home and 5-9 on the road. UNCW has lost six consecutive conference openers since an 87-83 overtime victory at Hofstra on Dec. 1, 2007.
 
The game features two of the league's most efficient offensive teams. UNCW ranks third in the loop in scoring offense at 72.5 points per game, third in field goal percentage (.466) and second in three-point field goal percentage (.388). Hofstra tops the CAA in scoring offense (81.3 ppg), scoring margin (+14.2), field goal percentage (.473) and three-point field goal percentage (.421).
 
Individually, three of the CAA's top scorers will be showcased in the matchup. Hofstra newcomer Ameen Tanksley, a 6-5, 230-poung wing player, ranks second in the league at 19.5 ppg followed by teammate Juan'ya Green, a 6-2, 195-point scoring playmaker, at 17.7 ppg. Senior guard Freddie Jackson of UNCW ranks sixth with a 15.4 clip.
 
The Pride leads the all-time series by a slim 16-14 margin, but Coach Joe Mihalich's team has had the better of the series in recent years, winning 12 of the last 14 meetings. Hofstra has won four in a row over UNCW and the Seahawks' last win in the series came on Jan. 26, 2013, when the team traveled to Long Island early in the morning and surprised the Pride, 57-51, behind Chris Dixon's 22 points, eight rebounds and five assists at the Mack Sports Complex.
 
Keatts said, "Hofstra is probably the best offensive team that we've faced all year. They average 80 points or more and make 10 three's a game. They're a very gifted team that can shoot the three from four different positions.
 
"Juan'ya Green is a tremendous player and makes them go. Their 1-2 punch of Green and Ameen Tanksley are very good players and we certainly have to try to do a good job on those guys."
 
UNCW eyes 10 games in January, evening split between home and road games. The Seahawks are 3-0 at Trask Coliseum this season after December victories over St. Andrews, Liberty and East Carolina.
 
Following Saturday's opener, the Seahawks have little time to rest. UNCW leaves early Sunday for a Monday night date with pre-season favorite Northeastern at Matthews Arena. UNCW then returns home next week for back-to-back home contests with Delaware (Jan. 8) and Drexel (Jan. 10).
 
The UNCW-Hofstra game can be seen on the Seahawk Digital Network via UNCWsports.com. Fans should click on the "Live Events" button on the top right-hand corner of the main page and follow the prompts for the free broadcast. A 15-minute pregame show kicks off the coverage followed by first-half coverage, a 15-minute halftime show, second-half action and a 15-minute post-game show.
 
Live-in game updates are also available on Twitter by following @UNCWmenshoops.
 
Season tickets remain on sale for UNCW's home games and may be purchased at the UNCW Athletics Ticket Office in Trask Coliseum or by visiting UNCWsports.com. Tickets can also be purchased by calling the UNCW Athletic Ticket Office at 910-962-3233 or 1-800-808-UNCW.
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Players Mentioned

Freddie Jackson

#10 Freddie Jackson

G
6' 4"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Freddie Jackson

#10 Freddie Jackson

6' 4"
Senior
G