Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

UNC Wilmington Athletics

Scoreboard

Events/Results

elongamestory2_graphic

Men's Basketball Joe Browning

First-Place Seahawks Open Challenging Road Swing


Game #27: UNCW "Seahawks" vs. Elon "Phoenix"
Alumni Gym (1,607) • Elon, N.C.
Saturday, Feb. 11, 2017 • 4 p.m.
Seahawk Digital Network (Audio)
Twitter: @UNCWMensHoops • #RunDefendWin
Game Notes: UNCW | ELON
22564
 UNCW "Seahawks"
2016-17 Record: 22-4, 11-2 CAA
Last Game: W 88-73, vs. James Madison, 2-9-17
Head Coach: Kevin Keatts (3rd Season)
Roster | Schedule/Results | Statistics | Homepage
21497 Elon "Phoenix"
2016-17 Record: 15-11, 7-6 CAA
Last Game: L 76-74, OT, at Delaware, 2-9-17
Head Coach: Matt Matheny (7th Season)
Roster | Schedule/Results | Statistics | Homepage

WILMINGTON, North Carolina – Spurred by an offense that has produced the most wins of any NCAA Division I team in North Carolina, the UNCW men's basketball team opens a challenging three-game conference road swing early Saturday by visiting pesky Elon, its state rival in the Colonial Athletic Association.
 
The Seahawks (22-4, 11-2) own a one-game lead in the CAA standings over the College of Charleston following an 88-73 drubbing of James Madison on Thursday and Northeastern's 73-72 upset of the Cougars at TD Arena. The Phoenix (15-11, 7-6) are locked in a three-way tie for fourth place. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. at Alumni Gym in the hamlet near Greensboro
 
"We've got to control our own destiny," said Kevin Keatts, UNCW's successful third-year head coach.  All we can control is UNCW, and that's all we're going to focus on. We have a lot of respect for the remaining five teams that we play. They're all very good basketball teams. On any given night in this conference, you can lose.
 
"It's conference time and the CAA is as tough as any conference in the country. There are some great players in this conference. On any given night – at home or at home – you can lose. We're just going to focus on being the best version of ourselves."
 
Five games remain on the regular season docket before the loop's 10 teams convene at the North Charleston Civic Center in three weeks to determine the CAA's automatic entry into the Big Dance.
 
UNCW hopes to dance again after last year's return to the party and observers have been right on target in predicting a strong season for Keatts and his explosive club. The Seahawks have not disappointed, navigating a tricky non-conference schedule and setting a torrid pace out of the gate in league play.
 
In Thursday's double digit win over the Dukes, the Seahawks completed a sweep of JMU for the second straight year and continue to use outstanding shooting to fuel an offense that ranks ninth in the NCAA Division I ranks at 86.2 points per game.
 
Sophomore guard C.J. Bryce, who has reached double figures in 24 of 26 games en route to 16.6 ppg, paced the Seahawks in scoring for the eighth time with 19 points, anchoring four men in double digits. UNCW has placed at least four men in double figures in 18-of-26 games this season.
 
The talented backcourt performer is getting help in the scoring column from senior guard Chris Flemmings (15.5), senior guard Denzel Ingram (14.7) and sophomore forward Devontae Cacok (13.3). A monster under the bucket, Cacok leads the NCAA in field goal percentage with a 79.6 percent clip, with many of his baskets coming off 72 dunks over the last four months.
 
The Seahawks lead the 16-game series with the Phoenix, 9-7, and own a 4-1 edge since the Phoenix joined the CAA in 2014-15. Keatts has won four of his five matchups vs. Elon, including a 79-63 verdict back on Jan. 2 in the second conference game of the season for the Seahawks.
 
Eighth-year Elon head coach Matt Matheny, meanwhile, has the Phoenix playing well, but his club has dropped consecutive road games at Charleston (71-58) and Delaware (76-74, OT). He's looking to get a win on his 47th birthday after losing to the Seahawks in Wilmington last season on his special day.
 
The road has been kind to the Seahawks since Keatts' arrival. He has piloted the team to a 24-18 mark away from the friendly confines of Trask Coliseum and UNCW owns a 9-2 overall road record this season and 5-1 mark in CAA road games in 2016-17.
 
Following Saturday's clash with the Phoenix, the Seahawks return to the Port City briefly before traveling to the Northeast next weekend for a key Thursday-Saturday journey to Northeastern and Hofstra. In a scheduling quirk, the Seahawks face the Huskies twice in the last five games of the campaign.
 
Live Seahawk Digital Network (SDN) coverage of the UNCW-UD contest begins with Mike Vaccaro providing the pregame show at 6:45 p.m. Visit UNCWsports.com/SDN for live audio coverage. In addition, a radio broadcast of the game can be heard on WLSG 94.1 FM and 1340 AM (Wilmington) and WSME 97.1 FM and 1120 AM (Jacksonville).
 
For more information on the UNCW men's basketball team throughout the 2016-17 season, visit UNCWsports.com and click on the Men's Basketball button. Additional information is also available on UNCW's social media channels: Facebook (UNCW Men's Basketball), Twitter (@UNCWmenshoops), Instagram (UNCWBasketball).
 
 
 
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

C.J. Bryce

#12 C.J. Bryce

G
6' 5"
Sophomore
Devontae Cacok

#15 Devontae Cacok

F
6' 7"
Sophomore
Chris Flemmings

#1 Chris Flemmings

G
6' 5"
Redshirt Senior
Denzel Ingram

#10 Denzel Ingram

G
6' 0"
Redshirt Senior

Players Mentioned

C.J. Bryce

#12 C.J. Bryce

6' 5"
Sophomore
G
Devontae Cacok

#15 Devontae Cacok

6' 7"
Sophomore
F
Chris Flemmings

#1 Chris Flemmings

6' 5"
Redshirt Senior
G
Denzel Ingram

#10 Denzel Ingram

6' 0"
Redshirt Senior
G