First-Place Seahawks Visit Elon For Regular Season Finale

Game #29: UNCW "Seahawks" vs. Elon "Phoenix" Alumni Gym (1,607) • Elon, N.C. Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2015 • 7 p.m. Seahawk Digital Network (Audio) • Live Stats Twitter: @UNCWMensHoops • #wingsup Game Notes: UNCW \| Elon


	UNCW "Seahawks" 2014-15 Record: 17-11, 12-5 CAA Last Game: Feb. 25 vs. JMU - W, 74-54 (Recap \| Box Score) Head Coach: Kevin Keatts (1st Season) Roster \| Schedule \| Statistics \| Homepage


	Elon "Phoenix" 2014-15 Record: 13-17, 5-12 CAA Last Game: Feb. 26 vs. Northeastern - W, 68-61 (Recap \| Box Score) Head Coach: Matt Matheny (6th Season) Roster \| Schedule \| Statistics \| Homepage

WILMINGTON, North Carolina – With first place in the Colonial Athletic Association and a possible No. 1 seed in next week's conference tournament on the line, the UNCW men's basketball team zips up I-40 on Saturday to take on CAA newbie Elon at cozy Alumni Gym.

The Seahawks, 17-11 overall and 12-5 in the CAA, battle the improving Phoenix, 13-17 and 5-12, at 7 p.m. at Elon's tight 1,607-seat campus facility. It's the smallest venue UNCW will appear in this season.

UNCW has been the surprise of the league in 2014-15 after being tabbed to finish ninth in the 10-team league. Instead, Kevin Keatts and his squad have offset a treacherous non-conference schedule with a sparkling 10-2 home record and enter this weekend's tilt with the Phoenix brimming with confidence.

"Elon is always a tough team to play against, especially on their home court," said Keatts, "They can score from four or five different positions. Matt (Matheny) has done a very good job with his team. Some of the younger guys that they were playing early in the year have matured and they're getting some guys back from injuries.

"They are a great transition team. They like to get up and down and shoot a lot of three's. We just want to stay the course. We've been pretty solid lately on the defensive end and we want to continue that."

The Seahawks approach Saturday's regular season finale locked into at least the No. 2 seed in next week's CAA Tournament, but still with a chance to tie for the CAA title or possibly win it outright. The Seahawks share first place in the conference with William & Mary - both featuring 12-5 league marks. The Tribe wraps up its slate with a home pairing against Drexel on Saturday at Kaplan Arena.

Following the clash with the Phoenix, the Seahawks begin preparations for the 2015 CAA Men's Basketball Championship at Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore. The single elimination event runs March 7-10 at the historic venue in Baltimore's Inner Harbor.

UNCW has continued its late-season surge recently, winning four of its last five games, nine out of last 12 and 12 of the last 16 contests, including an impressive 74-54 demolition of James Madison on Wednesday at Trask Coliseum.

The victory over the Dukes was a microcosm of the season. UNCW featured six players with an least eight points, topped by senior guard Addison's Spruill's 18 markers and nine boards, and committed just six turnovers in the convincing rout.

UNCW controlled the Phoenix in the first meeting between the two teams exactly one month ago at Trask Coliseum.

Senior guard Freddie Jackson came off the bench to lead the Seahawks with 15 points as UNCW blitzed Elon, 82-65, in the first CAA meeting between the two state schools at Trask Coliseum. The Seahawks shot a torrid 62.1 percent in the first half to build a comfortable 47-23 margin at intermission and led by as many as 30 points down the stretch. Dylan Sherwood and Cedrick Williams chipped in 14 points apiece for the Seahawks and rookie Elijah Bryant had 17 for the Phoenix.

In the last game between the two teams in Alumni Gym, played on Nov. 29, 2009, UNCW used a 28-8 run over the last 11 minutes of the first half to break away early in an 85-56 pounding of the Phoenix. The Seahawks placed five men in double figures and shot 53.7 percent from the field for their fifth consecutive win over the Phoenix. Elon shot just 33.3 percent from the field, including a chilly 5-for-22 behind the arc. Senior guard Montez Downey and junior center John Fields led UNCW in scoring with 14 points apiece. Fields added nine rebounds for the Seahawks, who committed just 12 turnovers.

Saturday marks the 13th meeting between the two schools, but just the second as conference opponents. The Seahawks have won six in a row against the Phoenix since a 106-80 loss during the 1975-76 season.

The Seahawks have averaged 72.5 ppg in the 12-game series while Elon has collected 71.0 ppg. In games played in Alumni Gym, the Seahawks have averaged 73.6 ppg and allowed 74.8 ppg.

The matchup features two of the top contenders for CAA Rookie-of-the-Year honors in UNCW's Jordon Talley and Elon's Bryant. Talley has started every CAA outing for the Seahawks and ranks fifth in scoring (7.2 ppg) and first in assists (3.0 apg) for the surging team. Bryant has played in all 30 contests for the Phoenix and leads the team in scoring with 14.0 points per game.

Elon has won two in a row against Delaware and Northeastern. Bryant collected 16 points, eight rebounds and four assists to help the Phoenix upset preseason CAA favorite Northeastern, 72-65, on Thursday night at Alumni Gym. The Phoenix shot 58 percent on 15-of-26 field goal attempts in the second half, including a pair of timely three-pointers by junior sharpshooter Tanner Samson down the stretch.

Saturday's game at Alumni Gym can be heard 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.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#10 Freddie Jackson: G; 6' 4"; Senior

#20 Dylan Sherwood: F; 6' 9"; Redshirt Junior

#40 Cedrick Williams: F; 6' 9"; Senior

#4 Jordon Talley: G; 6' 0"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#10 Freddie Jackson
: 6' 4"; Senior
: G

#20 Dylan Sherwood
: 6' 9"; Redshirt Junior
: F

#40 Cedrick Williams
: 6' 9"; Senior
: F

#4 Jordon Talley
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: G

UNC Wilmington Athletics

Scoreboard

Events/Results

First-Place Seahawks Visit Elon For Regular Season Finale

Players Mentioned

#10 Freddie Jackson

#20 Dylan Sherwood

#40 Cedrick Williams

#4 Jordon Talley

Players Mentioned

#10 Freddie Jackson

#20 Dylan Sherwood

#40 Cedrick Williams

#4 Jordon Talley