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Men's Basketball Joe Browning

CAA's Top Offensive Clubs On Display At Elon

Game #16: UNCW "Seahawks" vs. Elon "Phoenix"
Alumni Gym (1,607) • Elon, N.C.
Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016 • 7 p.m.
Seahawk Digital Network (Audio)ʉۢ Live Stats
Twitter: @UNCWMensHoops • #RunDefendWin
Game Notes: UNCW | Elon
22564
UNCW "Seahawks"
2015-16 Record: 10-5, 2-2 CAA
Last Game: W 85-67 at Delaware, 01-09-16
Head Coach: Kevin Keatts (2nd Season)
Roster | Schedule | Statistics | Homepage
21497Elon "Phoenix"
2015-16 Record: 11-6, 2-2 CAA
Last Game: L 80-76 Vs. Hofstra, 01-09-16
Head Coach: Matt Matheny (7th Season)
Roster | Schedule | Statistics | Homepage

WILMINGTON, North Carolina -  UNCW and Elon, the Colonial Athletic Association's most prolific offensive clubs, rev their engines Thursday night when the Seahawks and Phoenix hook up for the first time this season in a men's basketball clash at comfy Alumni Gym in Elon, N.C.

The Seahawks, 10-5 and 2-2, head the CAA in scoring offense at 82.3 points per game and scoring margin at +10.9, while Elon, 11-6 and 2-2, ranks second in scoring at 81.0 ppg. Two of the league's top scorers take the court in UNCW's Chris Flemmings (11th|14.6 ppg) and Elon's Tanner Samson (15.6|8th) ppg).

 "Elon has a very good basketball team," said Kevin Keatts, UNCW's second-year coach. "It will be a big challenge for us because they love to get up and down in transition. They take a lot of three's, but they make a lot of three's. We'll have to do a good job defending the three-point line. We must communicate on the defensive end and try to run them off the three-point line."

The bomb-happy Phoenix average 10.6 treys per contest, with 16 more triples than the nearest team (James Madison) in the CAA's weekly rankings. UNCW is seventh in the circuit with 6.4 trifectas per contest.

In their last appearance, the Seahawks bounced back from a tough road loss at Towson when freshman guard Mark Matthews went 7-of-11 overall and 4-of-5 from deep en route to a career-high 18 points to power UNCW over Delaware, 85-67, last Saturday. Junior center C.J. Gettys added a career-best 15 points, six rebounds and two blocks as the Seahawks won in Newark for the first time since 2006.
 
Senior guard Craig Ponder needs just 36 points to become the 22nd player in Seahawk history to score 1,000 points. The Bluefield, W.Va., product has racked up 964 points in 112 games for an 8.6 ppg clip. With his 16 points at Delaware, Ponder enjoyed his most productive offensive performance since the second game of the season (24 vs. Eastern Kentucky), a span of 13 games.
 
Elon is coming off a narrow 80-76 loss to CAA preseason favorite Hofstra last Saturday at Alumni Gym. Sparked by Samson's long range shooting, the Phoenix staged a second half comeback to tie the game late before succumbing to the Pride. Samson scored 23 points and Christian Harrison posted a double-double of 19 points and 13 rebounds. Rookie Tyler Seibring earned CAA Rookie-of-the-Week accolades after finishing in double figures with 16 points, including 10 in the second half.
 
Thursday marks the 14th meeting between the two schools, but just the third as CAA opponents. Elon holds a slim 7-6 edge in the series and won the first six games before the Seahawks answered with six consecutive victories until Elon's win on Feb. 28, 2015. The two teams did not play for 19 years before resuming play during the 2004-05 campaign. Matt Matheny is the fourth Elon coach the Seahawks have faced through the years.
 
The Seahawks and Phoenix split a pair of games last season in Elon's inaugural year in the conference and each club won on its home court.
 
In the last game between the two teams on Feb. 28, 2015, Elon jumped out to a 37-22 lead at halftime and held the Seahawks without a three-point field goal in 14 attempts to spoil UNCW's chances at an outright CAA regular season title with a 74-55 decision at Alumni Gym. The Phoenix shot only 38 percent from the floor, but outscored the Seahawks, 31-15, at the free throw line. UNCW was whistled for 29 personal fouls and four of the team's five starters were disqualified. Addison Spruill had 15 points to lead the Seahawks.
 
The Seahawks own a 2-4 mark against the Phoenix at Alumni Gym. UNCW lost its first three games in the smallish venue before winning in 2005 and 2009 and losing last February.
 
Following the clash with the Phoenix, the Seahawks return to Trask Coliseum for the first time since Jan. 2 on Saturday to entertain William & Mary at 2 p.m.
 
All of UNCW's games are carried live on the Seahawk Digital Network (SDN). Fans can visit UNCWsports.com, click the Live Events button, and select the game for a free audio feed of the contest. Seahawk basketball may also be heard over the radio airwaves on The Beach 94.1 FM/WLSG 1340 AM in Wilmington and New Hanover County and Freedom 97.1 FM/WSME 1120 AM in Jacksonville and Onslow County.

Season tickets are still available by visiting the UNCW Athletics Ticket Office in Trask Coliseum, calling 1-800-808-UNCW or clicking on the Tickets button via UNCWSports.com. Tickets start as low as $99, with 5 and 8-game mini-plans also available.
 
For more information on the Seahawks, like the team on Facebook (UNCW Men's Basketball) or follow the team on Twitter (@UNCWMensHoops).
 
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Players Mentioned

Addison Spruill

#24 Addison Spruill

G
6' 4"
Senior
Chris Flemmings

#1 Chris Flemmings

G
6' 5"
Redshirt Junior
C.J. Gettys

#23 C.J. Gettys

C
7' 0"
Redshirt Junior
Craig Ponder

#0 Craig Ponder

G
6' 1"
Redshirt Senior
Mark Matthews

#2 Mark Matthews

G
6' 6"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Addison Spruill

#24 Addison Spruill

6' 4"
Senior
G
Chris Flemmings

#1 Chris Flemmings

6' 5"
Redshirt Junior
G
C.J. Gettys

#23 C.J. Gettys

7' 0"
Redshirt Junior
C
Craig Ponder

#0 Craig Ponder

6' 1"
Redshirt Senior
G
Mark Matthews

#2 Mark Matthews

6' 6"
Freshman
G