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UNC Wilmington Athletics

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phillips_shykeim
Donn Jones
73
UNCW UNCW 5-8,0-0 CAA
88
Winner Vanderbilt VANDY 7-4,0-0 SEC
UNCW UNCW
5-8,0-0 CAA
73
Final
88
Vanderbilt VANDY
7-4,0-0 SEC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
UNCW UNCW 32 41 73
Vanderbilt VANDY 42 46 88

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Joe Browning

Vandy Tops Seahawks In Holiday Clash

NASHVILLE, Tennessee – Sophomore forward Aaron Nesmith poured in 20 of his game-high 34 points in the first half to help Southeastern Conference member Vanderbilt race past UNCW, 88-73, in a non-conference men's basketball tilt Saturday at Memorial Coliseum.
 
The Commodores improved to 7-4 on the season by beating the Seahawks in their first appearance at the SEC's oldest venue since 1991. UNCW dropped its fifth in a row and owns a 5-8 mark heading into its CAA debut on Dec. 28 at Delaware.
 
The smooth-shooting Nesmith led all scorers with his 34 points – the most by an opponent this season - on 9-for-16 shooting from the field, 7-for-10 from long distance and 9-for-11 at the free throw line. Junior guard Saben Lee was the only other Vanderbilt player in double figures with 14 points.
 
Sophomore forward Jaylen Sims anchored four players in double figures for the Seahawks with 19 points. Junior guard Mike Okauru added 12, sophomore playmaker Kai Toews chipped in 11 and sophomore guard Brian Tolefree finished with 10 points.
 
The Seahawks outshot the Commodores from the floor, but Vanderbilt outscored the visitors at the free throw line, 23-11, to secure the victory. Vanderbilt cashed in on 23-for-29 at the charity stripe, including 16-for-20 in the final period.
 
"They were long and athletic and did a nice job of attacking the basket," said UNCW Head Coach C.B. McGrath. "The turnovers were the real issue today. We just need to learn from our mistakes. Some turnovers were forced, some were unforced. If we can cut down on the unforced turnovers, we can get good shots."
 
In the last game before the Christmas holiday break for both clubs, the Commodores bolted out to a 42-32 advantage at halftime and held off a late Seahawk charge for the 15-point decision.
 
In the second half, Vanderbilt built a 22-point cushion, 78-58, with just under five minutes left to play before UNCW used an 11-0 run to make things interesting. Sims capped a string of three consecutive three-point field goals with his second straight trifecta at 1:42 to get the Seahawks within, 78-67. But Scotty Pippen, Jr., answered with a pair of free throws and Nesmith drained his seventh triple to stall the rally.
 
Nesmith opened the scoring for the Commodores and exploded for 20 points in the first period. He went 5-for-8 from the floor, including 4-for-7 from long distance, and added 6-for-7 at the free throw line for a big first half.
 
Vanderbilt made five consecutive baskets and capitalized on a two-minute drought by the Seahawks to stretch out to a 24-16 advantage. Jordan Wright's driving layup with 8:13 left in the first half staked the Commodores to an eight-point cushion.
 
Toews drained a three-pointer from the top of the key to bring the Seahawks within 37-29 at the two-minute mark. But Nesmith converted both ends of a bonus situation and Lee finished off a conventional three-point play and the lead swelled to 42-29.
 
Sims managed to chop the lead to 10 points at the break when he grabbed a rebound, raced down the floor and sank a long trey as time expired to help the Seahawks pull within, 42-32, at the break.
 
The Seahawks return to the floor with a post-Christmas Northeast swing to Delaware and Drexel. UNCW takes on the Blue Hens on Saturday, Dec. 28, at 7 p.m. before moving over to Philadelphia on Monday, Dec. 30, for a 7 p.m. tilt vs. Drexel.
 
GAME NOTES: The Seahawks are now 3-6 all-time in Music City…UNCW stands 2-17 against SEC opponents through the years…Coach C.B. McGrath's club is 0-4 in the month of December…The Seahawks are 0-4 in true road games this season and have lost 14 consecutive non-conference road outings…Vanderbilt scored 30 points in the paint…The Seahawks racked up 24 personal fouls…The Commodores had 14 steals…UNCW went 11-for-13 at the free throw line…There were three lead changes and two ties in the game...The 24 personal fouls and 23 turnovers represented season highs for the Seahawks.
 
 
 
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