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Men's Basketball Joe Browning

Seahawks Make Road Debut At Davidson

WILMINGTON, North Carolina – With an entertaining 81-76 overtime win over Campbell in hand, the UNCW men's basketball team travels across the state on Saturday to battle Davidson at John M. Belk Arena in its first road test of the 2019-20 season.
 
The Seahawks (2-1) and Wildcats (0-2) square off at 7 p.m. in the 12th meeting between the two state schools. Davidson has reeled off five straight victories to grab a 6-5 edge in the series.
 
"Coach (Bob) McKillop has been at Davidson a long time and they're a well-coached team," said third-year UNCW Head Coach C.B. McGrath. "They're going to run their stuff. They have a nice motion offense. They have a bunch of shooters and they look to spread the court. We know it's going to be a tough ball game."
 
McGrath's club converted 53.2 percent from the floor in the nailbiter against the Camels. For the second time in three games, the Seahawks displayed a balanced attack, with five men reaching double figures in the scoring column.
 
Sophomore guard Jaylen Sims is off to an outstanding start in his second season with the club. The Charlotte product is one of two players reaching double figures in all three games and leads the team in scoring (15.3 ppg) and rebounding (6.0 rpg) early in the campaign.
 
Freshman guard Shykeim Phillips (11.3) and junior guard Jay Estime' (10.0) give the Seahawks three players in double digits. The Seahawks are shooting 44.6 percent from the floor and averaging 82.0 ppg.
 
The matchup will be carried over the air on The Breeze, 95.9 FM. The call by play-by-play voice Mike Vaccaro can also be heard on the station's website, www.959thebreeze.com. A PPV of the action may be seen on ESPN+.
 
Seahawk Tip-ins:
  • Davidson, 24-10 last year and 14-4 in the Atlantic-10 Conference, is picked to finish second in the A-10 behind VCU. The Wildcats picked up eight first-place votes and placed two players – Kellan Grady and 2019 A-10 Player of the Year Jon Axel Gudmundsson - on the league's preseason First-Team.
  • The Seahawks won five of the first six meetings between the two schools, but the Wildcats have taken five straight and six of the last seven matchups. UNCW's last win over Davidson came 24 years ago on Dec. 5, 1995, at Trask Coliseum.
  • UNCW stands 5-6 against longtime Davidson head coach Bob McKillop, who has been in the lead chair for the Wildcats for the last 31 seasons.
     
  • UNCW has faced 11 of the 14 schools in the Atlantic-10 Conference, compiling a 72-98 (.426) record against the loop. Former CAA rivals George Mason, Richmond and VCU are all now members of the league. The Seahawks also took on Dayton in the 2001 Postseason NIT.
     
  • During Davidson's current five-game winning streak over the Seahawks, the Wildcats have averaged 83.6 ppg compared to 68.6 ppg for UNCW. That's a winning margin of 15.0 ppg.
  • The clubs are both shooting well at the charity stripe early in '19-20. UNCW has connected on 49-of-68 for 71.2 percent at the line. Davidson is shooting 84.0 percent on 21-of-25 after two outings.
  • With its 52.1 percent aim on Tuesday, the Seahawks enjoyed their third best shooting night during the McGrath Era. UNCW converted 58.7 percent against Drexel on Jan. 2, 2018, at Trask Coliseum for the best shooting night in McGrath's tenure.
  • Sims has opened his second season with a flourish. He has scored 19 (JWU), 12 (UNC) and 15 (CU) in his first three appearances this year. He registered his first career double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds in the loss to No. 9 North Carolina on Nov. 8 at Trask Coliseum.
  • Following Saturday's matchup, the Seahawks return to Trask Coliseum to play host to N.C. Wesleyan on Tuesday, Nov. 19, in a 7 p.m. tipoff. Five of UNCW's nine games in November are at home.
     


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Players Mentioned

Jay Estime

#12 Jay Estime'

G
6' 5"
Junior
Jaylen Sims

#30 Jaylen Sims

G
6' 6"
Sophomore
Shykeim Phillips

#2 Shykeim Phillips

G
6' 0"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Jay Estime

#12 Jay Estime'

6' 5"
Junior
G
Jaylen Sims

#30 Jaylen Sims

6' 6"
Sophomore
G
Shykeim Phillips

#2 Shykeim Phillips

6' 0"
Freshman
G